Everton, if they are to succeed in a congested market that has been severely hamstrung by PSR, will have to act with intelligence.
After all, their movements will have to be wise enough to avoid further sanctions, but also strong enough to improve a squad that is lacking depth and quality.
Fortunately, there are players out there whose stock is low and are currently slightly unwanted at their current clubs.
This is the kind of underappreciated talent that Kevin Thelwell must prey on if the Toffees are to survive in this cutthroat Premier League world.
Everton have shown transfer interest in Emile Smith Rowe before
With reports having suggested that Everton are interested in Emile Smith Rowe before, it is not beyond the realm of possibility to suggest that they might rekindle that interest this summer.
After all, the Arsenal starlet has seen his game time once again limited this campaign, and as Mikel Arteta’s squad continues to grow, his influence diminishes.
Once their key attacking asset, now the likes of Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz and more have sprouted up in his place.
The barrier for entry is supremely high, and thus a move for the Toffees could represent good value.
And they could be further spurred on by glowing recommendations of the legendary Wayne Rooney in the past, who once claimed: ‘Yeah, I am [a fan]. I think he’s a fantastic young player.
‘When I first went in as manager of Derby, he’s actually a player who I enquired about to try and bring in on loan He can take the ball with both feet, he can score goals, create goals.
‘I really like him and think he’s got a bright future. He makes good runs to get in behind. He’s got an eye for goal. I really like him.’
Emile Smith Rowe would improve Everton
Even if game time has been limited for the attacking midfielder, his quality at this level cannot be underestimated.
After all, the attacking midfielder remains just 23 years old, which is remarkably young for someone who feels like they’ve been around the Premier League for some time.
His continued presence is owed to his stunning displays before injury struck, where the £40k-a-week gem even struck double figures for league goals during the 2021/22 season as the Gunners finished fifth.
For comparison, Abdoulaye Doucoure has never hit ten goals in the Premier League in his entire career at that level.
The Mali international cannot be faulted for his work in keeping the Toffees afloat in recent years, but throughout the campaign just gone his deficiencies were brutally exposed.
When he wasn’t scoring or assisting, he offered little else, and he endured a particularly barren period of 14 league games where he provided just one goal contribution last campaign.
Meanwhile, Smith Rowe provides that touch of quality in the midfield that Sean Dyche perhaps lacks, and he could offer a perfect foil for his strikers, especially if Dominic Calvert-Lewin signs a new contract.
Perhaps the youngster might not need to completely end Doucoure’s time on Merseyside, but at 31 years old and with just one year left on his deal, some planning for the future is in order.