At the start of the season, most Everton fans would have taken 40 points and not have to worry about the relegation dogfight. Since David Moyes first spell at Everton, the Toffees have been dragged into several nail-biting season finales, and while they’ll be breathing a sigh of relief that this is not going to be the case at the end of the season, there’s no doubt that Everton need to strengthen if they are to make a strong claim for the top 6 next season. 

A Big Summer Ahead

With a handful of Everton’s players potentially off to the World Cup this summer, David Moyes will be keen to strengthen in positions where Everton are clearly extremely lacking. Given that the tournament dynamic of this year’s World Cup is 48 teams instead of 32, the key thing for the Blues is that their top talents get far in the tournament, commit themselves to Everton moving forward, and, most crucially, avoid injury.

Jordan Pickford is England’s number one. He has cemented himself in that role over the last decade, and with England potentially looking to break 60 years of hurt by lifting the trophy for the first time since 1966, it would be remarkable if Everton has a fresh World Cup winner in their dressing room next season. 

The volume of FIFA World Cup games is incredibly exciting from both a fan and betting perspective. There’s nothing quite like a World Cup summer, and while Moyes will be cheering on his native Scotland, he will also be keeping an eye on the players who stand out, looking to convince them to get on board with his exciting EFC project. 

Firing Blanks Upfront

To anyone who has even had a glancing interest in the fortune of the Toffees this season, you’ll be under no illusions that the area they need to strengthen the most is their frontline. We’ve seen Everton linked with a multitude of strikers already, and the season has not even come to an end yet. 

Liam Delap was heavily linked to Everton last summer. Although he opted to sign for Chelsea instead, he has not had a good time at Stamford Bridge this season, managing just one league goal in 21 games. It looks like those rumors are back in circulation, given that Liam looks to be out of favor at Chelsea.

It’s not a great strike rate, either way you look at it. Even compared to Richarlison at Spurs, who is playing through one of the most toxic environments in the league, has managed 1 in 3. 

Sean Dyche spent big on bringing in Beto, but the Portuguese has been underwhelming, with 4 goals in 30 games; his strike rate is marginally better than that of central defender Michael Keane, who has managed 3 goals in 26 games. He has also been linked with a move back to Italy, which Everton fans aren’t likely to be losing much sleep over.

While Thierno Barry has shown more promise, he has also blown hot and cold, with many Everton fans disillusioned with his performances, compounded by friction off the pitch. Everton solves this problem, and this is a huge step toward the top 6 next season.

Keeping The Spine Of The Team

Although Evertonians would’ve been elated by Jarrad Branthwaite penning a new bumper deal earlier this year, for the more pessimistic, this simply means they will get more money for him if he decides to leave in the summer. 

The rhetoric seems positive for now, and the deal’s signing and timing seem to indicate that Jarrad is committing to Everton for the next few seasons. If Branthwaite, Pickford, Ndiaye, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall remain at Everton, and they can add a striker as well as a couple of solid wingbacks – then this will fill David Moyes and his team with plenty of hope going into next season. 

The Grealish Dilemma

Jack Grealish exploded onto the scene in his early Everton career, but injuries have cost him at a crucial time. It was looking at one stage that he could force his way into World Cup contention, but with a serious foot injury ruling him out, Moyes will be looking to get Grealish on a permanent basis in the summer. 

As is often the case with loan moves becoming permanent, the sticking point is going to be the price tag. Given how well Jack played for Everton at the start of the season, Evertonians will be chomping at the bit to sign him up permanently, but if City wants too much money for him, then they may have already seen him play his last game in an Everton shirt. 

Is Europe On Next Season?

If Everton can go into August with all of these things in place, injury-free, and without the extra games that come with European football, this could act as a blessing in disguise and help them focus solely on trying to crack the top 6.

It’s too early to tell yet, though, as other teams around them, such as Newcastle, Brighton, and Brentford, could all strengthen as well. David Moyes will be delighted with the position he is in, though, and Evertonians should be too, given where they have been over the last 5 years. Rome wasn’t built in a day.