On Friday, Kevin Thelwell released a statement detailing an update on Everton’s plans for the future and ongoing progress.
The latter has certainly been positive, with the manner in which the Toffees navigated relegation this season relatively straightforward compared to past years.
Sean Dyche deserves lots of the credit for that, but so too does a team strung together by the Director of Football’s shrewd operations.
However, in this letter, penned to keep Evertonians in the loop, he provided the grim reality of their situation ahead of a huge summer of rebuilding.
‘Players will be sold,’ he promised, before reiterating they were doing all in their power to find replacement talent for a cut price.
But they also have another avenue to recoup funds, with plenty of contracts expiring this summer too.
Everton players whose contracts are expiring
Everton’s wage bill has been cut significantly since Thelwell’s appointment early in 2022, but it is still not enough.
There are too many high earners who are not providing enough on the pitch, but fortunately they are mostly due to exit in the coming years.
One such name who seems set for a departure is Andre Gomes, who has spent six years with the club now including his initial loan spell.
However, sat on a whopping £112k-a-week wedge, that is unsustainable, and his recent post to X seemed emotional enough to be a farewell.
And whilst Ashley Young, Seamus Coleman and Idrissa Gana Gueye also have expiring contracts, new deals would be expected for them all.
Jack Harrison, though, leaves despite being a key figure for Dyche’s side, starting 25 league matches across the season.
Although Leeds United may not be desperate to have him back, again the funds might not be in place for the Toffees to take him on a second loan.
Many players bid Goodison Park farewell vs Sheffield United
Without us knowing, a whole host of stars likely bid farewell to the home crowd on Saturday.
Some will have already made their plans to depart, but others might leave due to matters outside of their control. Given the dire financial position of the club, some might even be pushed out the exit door should the money be good enough.
Already we have seen reports emerging that detail the players of interest, with Jarrad Branthwaite, Amadou Onana and Dominic Calvert-Lewin unsurprisingly headlining that list.
The former two are the club’s most sellable assets, as a pair of young stars already shining in the Premier League.
Should the money be good enough, it would be hard for Everton to say no.
Then, with the latter, the marksman has just one year left on his £100k-a-week deal, and it’s fair to say that the club cannot afford to give him more than that.
Were he to re-sign, it would surely be on reduced terms, so it now depends on whether he wants to go, how desperate he is to move, and if he is willing to put a brighter future for his career over his loyalty to the club.
Regardless, all three might well be sold this summer to give the club a much-needed financial refresh, and paired with the aforementioned trio, this would mark a huge but emotional clear-out.