Why Everton’s transfer business won’t propel them into the top four

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Everton have been the major players in the transfer window to date as they attempt to complete their business before the start of the season. They have already brought six players to Goodison Park and more are expected as they try to close the gap to the top six. Although they have been quick and decisive in the market, their business to date doesn’t suggest that an improved finish is likely.

They have spent around £83 million to date, according to transfermarkt.co.uk, and they have yet to make the signings that will propel them up the division. The difficulty for the Toffees this summer was always going to be the inevitable departure of Romelu Lukaku.

He was their best player and it was never likely that he was going to be replaced by one player. They needed to aim for sustained improvement across the pitch instead, with their target being to make gains in other positions, therefore limiting the effect of losing the Belgian.

Michael Keane and Jordan Pickford have joined to strengthen the defence. As two young Englishmen, they were brought in to maintain a British core to the team. They have been lauded in the media during the last 12 months and ended the previous campaign with a lot of credit.

At 24 and 23 years of age, respectively, they have the potential to develop into excellent players. However, for a combined cost of roughly £48 million, they are on the expensive side. Meanwhile, there are no guarantees that they will become Champions League calibre players.

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The midfield didn’t need much work, but the addition of Davy Klaassen provides a new profile to the squad. He was formerly an Ajax captain and it will be good to have that mentality at the club. Although he may not have been the most talented player at Ajax, he is a hard worker and he does add competition for places.

The links to Gylfi Sigurdsson are interesting, as he could be competing for the same spot in the team as Klaassen. If that is the case, it is questionable to spend over £50 million on two players to compete for the same place in the team.

Henry Onyekuru (loaned to Anderlecht) and Sandro Ramirez are both exciting talents, but they aren’t at the level of a top-six side yet. These have certainly been done with one eye on the future. That can’t be said for the signing of Wayne Rooney.

This is certainly a sentimental transfer and it will be intriguing to see where he fits in. His final few matches for Manchester United suggested he no longer has the legs to be a regular in the Premier League, but his experience will be invaluable to a team trying to break into the top six.

The next item on the club’s agenda will be to sign a striker to replace the outgoing Lukaku. This will be their biggest test and the links to Olivier Giroud are gathering pace. He would be a smart addition and one of their better signings of the summer, but it does represent a downgrade from last season.

In isolation, a case can be made for each new signing being a good one for Everton. They have targeted young footballers with potential, aside from Rooney, and there will be a belief that they can develop as a team. The concern with potential is that it sometimes isn’t fulfilled.

Considering they could spend more than £100 million by the end of the window, Everton will still struggle to break into the top six. The gap is larger than many think it is and, although they are making solid signings, none of them scream Champions League. Given time and the right coaching, they may reach that level, but supporters suggesting they will challenge for the top four are getting ahead of themselves.

The team that finished directly above them last season are set to take their best player, while Arsenal are making major moves. They will be the teams that Everton will be hoping to catch and it will be a tough ask unless they bring in players with proven Champions League quality.

If, hypothetically, the Toffees signed a couple in that category, then this summer would be a huge success. At the moment, it is difficult to shrug the feeling that they have spent all of that money to consolidate 7^th position. More needs to be done if they want a top-four challenge.

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