Everton and its fanbase are expecting something of a mass exodus this summer, as Goodison Park readies for its final year in operation.
After the 2024/25 season, the Toffees will call Bramley-Moore Dock their new home, and the Old Lady will be reduced to rubble and rebuilt with the community in mind.
It is a project revered by those who gave permission for this mass change, but one which will strike a dagger into the heart of every Evertonion.
The bittersweet nature of this last season at Goodison will be somewhat marred by the huge changes that Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell will have to make on the pitch though, with some of their stars already drawing interest, and many more contracts expiring.
Andre Gomes says goodbye to Goodison Park
As noted late last week, Saturday may have marked the final appearance for many Everton players at Goodison Park, with one final game of the season to go.
Jarrad Branthwaite, Amadou Onana and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all excelled, making their potential transfers all the more frustrating.
There is little that can be done if the right offer is submitted, given they remain slaves to the financial system which has punished them twice already this campaign.
However, one man who might not even feature for the club at all again now is Andre Gomes, who was left in a heap late in the second half of Saturday’s win over Sheffield United.
And whilst he could get up to walk off the pitch, and later applauded the home crowd during the lap of honour, such a blow to the head could incur the concussion protocols, which would rule him out for Sunday’s trip to Arsenal.
It did seem like, in his post-match post on X, that he was issuing Everton farewell with the emotion behind his words.
Painfully missed potential for Andre Gomes
When Gomes first burst onto the scene at Everton, as a loanee from Barcelona, he was a breath of fresh air.
Dynamic yet silky in possession, fans were left stunned when the chiselled maestro was snagged on a permanent deal for just £22m.
However, it quickly became clear why the Catalonian giants were so keen to sanction his exit, as his lack of consistency became evident.
Journalist Chris Beesley noted that last summer, as he wrote for the Liverpool ECHO: ‘Those same supporters who had initially been charmed by a performer whose style was easy on the eye started to wonder just what he actually brought to the side in terms of tangible contributions.
‘Here was a supposed creative force who totalled just one goal and four assists in 88 Premier League games but couldn’t provide an effective shield in front of his defence either with his clumsy tackling producing 19 yellow cards.’
He was right then, and remains right now. The absence of his huge wages will be a welcome sight for Thelwell, but Gomes will remain well-liked by the fanbase even if they know that he did not fulfil his potential.