Following the team’s preseason training camp in Ireland, Everton’s players resumed activity at Finch Farm on Monday. Following the stalemate with Sligo Rovers on Friday, the team returned to their headquarters, which is located just outside of Dublin, and took a flight home on Saturday.
The players had Sunday off, but Sean Dyche told them it will be a demanding week leading up to Saturday’s friendly against Salford City. Gaffer’s Day, Dyche’s infamous fitness routine, is expected to occur in the coming days. His team believes it will happen on Tuesday of this week. Here are some of the main concerns at the beginning of the third week of preseason as work continues both on and off the field.
Dyche, his staff and his squad are well-versed in having to navigate off-field issues unfolding around them. Over the near-20 months of his tenure, the Blues boss has been in charge during three major investment efforts – all of which have collapsed, two points deductions, and chaos and change in the boardroom. Last season, as the club endured a record winless streak in the Premier League, he acknowledged the toll the points deductions and the hearings surrounding them – including appeals – was having on his players.
In spite of this, he managed to spearhead an April form surge that lifted Everton out of the relegation struggle with a few weeks remaining. When it was revealed that The Friedkin Group’s planned takeover had failed, there was dissatisfaction and disappointment within and around the club because of the group’s reputation, which had raised hopes that it would help stabilize the club.
As a result of their withdrawal from the negotiations, there is now more uncertainty, which means Dyche will probably be asked more questions at the beginning of the season on issues that are beyond his control. Getting his players to focus on football and ignore the problems off the field is one of his main current responsibilities.
Not all the bad news that clouded Ireland’s otherwise bright week—and summer thus far—came from the takeover debacle on Friday. James Tarkowski took an early flight home on Thursday night to get a glute problem evaluated. Speaking to the ECHO on Friday, Dyche stated that it was a precautionary measure and that it was hoped the damage was mild. Supporters will share that hope because of how crucial Tarkowski is to the team.
Essentially the vice captain, he played every Premier League game last season and has avoided serious injury for years. His fitness and determination has provided stability in an area where that had been undermined by injury crises before his arrival – everyone would like it to stay that way.
Perhaps the biggest source of uncertainty on the playing side is the future of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The striker is out of contract next summer and is yet to sign new terms that have been offered to him. This leaves Everton in a difficult position. He would likely attract a useful fee this summer should he depart, but however much he did leave for, it is unlikely Everton would be able to replace a player of his value to the team with the resources that would be available. Selling him is therefore loaded with risk. This is a situation that may be determined by whether another club comes in for him. Newcastle United have shown their hand already, though talks broke down last month.
Eddie Howe is a long-term admirer and interest from the North East remains, but the club is currently assessing its options after Callum Wilson suffered his latest setback – a back injury that may see him miss the opening of the campaign. Howe likes Wilson and activity was expected to be influenced by whether he was sold – but his injury may force Newcastle into the market. Whatever happens, it is a situation the club could do with finalising as soon as possible.
Rather than seeing their attacking options reduced, Everton is still eager to bolster them. Adding depth out wide has been the top objective for a while now. It has been significant that Jack Harrison, who is on loan from Leeds United, has returned. He looked impressive after coming on against Sligo. But compared to previous season, Everton’s wide options are currently limited because Lewis Dobbin was moved to Aston Villa and Arnaut Danjuma is back at Villarreal.
Thus far, efforts have been made to remedy it in relation to Jaden Philogene and Yankuba Minteh, both of whom were able to get relocation elsewhere. Everton is vying for Jesper Lindstrom of Napoli, while Wilfried Gnonto has long been a target for efforts to give Dyche further alternatives moving forward.
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