Michael Ball has predicted another ‘difficult’ summer for Everton.
Writing in his column for the Liverpool Echo, the former defender explained why the Toffees’ contract situation could be a real problem for them at the end of the season.
Everton fans were left delighted when Abdoulaye Doucoure put pen to paper on a contract extension last week, making him the club’s highest earner.
There was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the midfielder’s future and Ball has claimed it was a very ‘important’ move for the Toffees to have tied him down before the January transfer window.
However, while Ball was ‘delighted’ at Doucoure’s new deal, he thinks Everton could be in trouble if they don’t sort out other contracts.
“I was delighted to see Abdoulaye Doucoure sign a new contract with the club,” Ball said.
“Since Sean Dyche has come in, Doucoure has been one of our better players, and who will ever forget the goal he scored against Bournemouth?
“But I also think that Doucoure is a prime example of what can happen when someone, like your manager, shows faith in you. The smile on his face now tells the story.
“Next summer could be another difficult one for the club due to the number of players we have out of contract, which is why it is important to see players like Doucoure tied down.”
Are Everton in trouble?
Everton will see eight players’ contracts expire, with Jack Harrison, Arnaut Danjuma, Andre Gomes, Dele Alli, Seamus Coleman, Ashley Young, Andy Lonergan and Idrissa Gueye all potentially leaving Goodison Park.
While Harrison could well make his loan move permanent if Leeds United fail to win promotion, and Gueye does have the option of a further year, the remaining players could well be on their way out.
Most of those are actually just dead wood and Everton could do with bringing in fresh new talent anyway, however that doesn’t change the fact that Sean Dyche could lose a lot of first team players at once.
The Toffees are already light on squad depth as it is and certainly can’t splash out on bringing in new faces next summer.
The club will have to be careful with who they allow to leave, while they could look to offer the likes of Gueye, Dele and Coleman fresh terms.
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