How are Everton likely to line-up after the summer transfer window?

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Everton boss Ronald Koeman has shown no signs of going on his holidays just yet, as a busy opening to the summer has already seen two additions arrive at Goodison Park – with another one imminent.

Sunderland and England Under-21 goalkeeper Jordan Pickford set the ball rolling with his £30million switch to Merseyside closely followed by influential Ajax captain Davy Klaassen in a £24million move.

And if reports from BBC Sport are anything to go by (which they usually are) then ex-Barcelona and Malaga forward Sandro Ramirez will be in an Everton shirt next season, arriving in a £5.2million deal.

This will by no means be the end of Everton’s work this summer, by any stretch of the imagination, with Koeman set to build on his current squad more to challenge the top six sides closer next year.

But with the fate of certain players still in the balance – step forward Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku – The Boot Room looks at the Toffees’ potential line-up for an opening day tie with Stoke.

Defence

With veteran Phil Jagielka not getting any younger at 34-years-old and errors beginning to creep into his game, The Sun has reported in the past week that Everton are on the brink of signing Michael Keane from Burnley to add some much-needed youth into their back-line, partnering Ashley Williams.

The ex-Manchester United man enjoyed a stand-out season at Turf Moor – resulting in his first international call-up for England – and it’s believed that Everton are set to meet the £25million price.

A big boost for the Toffees this summer has also been how quickly they acted to secure Seamus Coleman on a five-year contract extension, with the Irishman now a pivotal part of Koeman’s plans.

Despite being likely to miss the opening of the Premier League season after breaking his leg horrifically back in March, young Mason Holgate has stepped in admirably and developed his game well.

His experience at the back last season – where he made 16 league starts – stands him in good stead ahead of the new campaign, and with the extra addition of Keane it looks like a stubborn defensive line.

Midfield

The big question mark over Everton’s midfield for next season comes in the shape of Ross Barkley, with it unclear as to whether his future lies on Merseyside next year after a well-documented fall-out with Koeman.

After being given an ultimatum of ‘sign a contract in the next week or find a new club’ by the Everton manager in early May – which Barkley ignored – it’s likely that the youngster will be on his way out.

Instead, The Sun have claimed that the Toffees have set their sights on bringing in Swansea and Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson as a like-for-like creative replacement in the middle of the park.

ESPN claimed a few days back that Everton had had a £27million bid rejected by the Swans – who are reluctant to let him leave – but with the potential money coming into the club from the sale of Romelu Lukau this summer it might not be long before they can negotiate and agree on a price for Sigurdsson.

This seems to be the main deal that Everton are holding out for in their midfield ranks this summer, with the likes of Idrissa Gueye, Tom Davies, Kevin Mirallas and new signing Davy Klaassen already in the side.

Attack

It’s the big question on everyone’s lips this summer – and a matter that Everton supporters will be hoping they never have to face – but the future of star striker Romelu Lukaku is truly in the balance.

It has been circulating all summer that the Belgian is poised to return to former side Chelsea during the window – as reported by the Evening Standard – but nothing concrete has been detailed so far.

But with Everton being linked with forwards left, right and centre – the Mirror have linked them with Burnley’s Andre Gray and The Sun have claimed Celtic’s Moussa Dembele and Eupen’s Henry Onyekuru – also from The Sun – are edging closer to moves – Koeman is arguably preparing for life without Lukaku.

Add to this the impending signing of Malaga’s Sandro Ramirez and it becomes even clearer that the Dutchman has highlighted an area that needs strengthening – most likely due to Lukaku’s imminent exit.

Sandro has the physicality needed to replace Lukaku should he leave, and he’s enjoyed a prolific season in La Liga, so it’s likely that he would lead the line; but the pace of both Dembele and Gray would provide a completely different threat up front, so don’t rule out these moves taking place over the next months.

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