Everton must address a glaring issue at Finch Farm after Fabrizio Romano’s latest update this week.
This season, it feels like the Toffees’ youth supply line has ground to a halt, with Jarrad Branthwaite and Lewis Dobbin the only players Sean Dyche is eager to call upon – Branthwaite, who made the England squad last week, didn’t even come through the academy at Finch Farm.
Dyche has even admitted he doesn’t feel anyone from Everton’s academy is ready to make an impact in the first team.
“That is a really simple equation,” the 52-year-old explained [Liverpool Echo].
“If there was an 18-year-old here who I thought was good enough to play in the first team, he would be playing. There is no one I have seen so far who is ready to jump in there.”
So why aren’t Everton’s academy prospects ready to make an impact? Fabrizio Romano’s update this week goes a long way in telling Evertonians why.
Fabrizio Romano update highlights Finch Farm issue
According to the Italian transfer guru, Jayden Lienou, born in 2008, has completed a move to Manchester City.
Romano revealed on Wednesday morning that City have signed all the documents to bring the left-back to The Etihad. It’s believed the Premier League champions beat off competition from two other England clubs.
Surely, more must be done to prevent players like Lienou from departing before they threaten the first team.
The young Welsh star is not the first to depart Finch Farm at such a tender age.
What youngsters have left Everton?
Several prospects have moved on to pastures new over the last year. Tom Cannon was allowed to sign for Leicester City despite impressing during his loan with Preston North End.
Isaac Price, 20, opted to move to Standard Liege in Belgium. There, he has made 18 starts in the Jupiler League, scoring once. Furthermore, the midfielder has also featured regularly for Northern Ireland.
“Everton didn’t want me to leave,” he told The Liverpool Echo. They wanted me to sign a new contract, but I was convinced of the idea of joining Les Rouches and taking a step forward for my career.”
Ishe Samuels-Smith was another player who quit the club, with the 17-year-old signing for Chelsea. It’s believed the Toffees received significant compensation.
Lienou’s switch to Manchester City is just the latest in a long line, and Kevin Thelwell must address it.
If the Toffees chief wants to fulfil his vision for the academy, he must hold onto key assets during their development stage.
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