Everton squad audit: Fresh Idrissa Gueye talks needed, will they sign a new striker?

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Manager David Moyes and the rest of the Everton hierarchy will also have to juggle expiring contracts, the exit of club captain Seamus Coleman and potentially find ways to fend off interest in star names. So, where will Everton need to do business? And what of the players, such as midfielder Idrissa Gueye, whose deals expire this summer? Here, we’ve had a go at mapping out the state of play and what should come next. Jordan Pickford is the undisputed No 1 at Everton. The England international’s new deal, agreed at the start of the season, runs until the end of the 2029 campaign and was signed with a view to the 32-year-old seeing out his career on Merseyside. Republic of Ireland and Wales internationals Mark Travers and Tom King provide solid but unspectacular back-up. A new No 2 will be required if Travers pushes for regular minutes elsewhere, as is expected. Under-21 goalkeeper George Pickford, no relation to Jordan, impressed on his first loan with sixth-tier Southport in the second half of the season and has often been the fourth member of the first team’s training group. The 19-year-old is likely to get another loan move, at a higher level, next season. Below him, the 18-year-old Douglass Lukjanciks is another promising prospect but is likely to play further second-string games, with a loan of his own the next step. With captain Seamus Coleman having confirmed he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season, Everton will have just one right-back in the out-of-favour Nathan Patterson. The Scotland international almost signed for Serie A side Genoa in the winter window and is expected to depart this summer. Signing a new right-back is a priority for Everton in the summer window, and would allow Jake O’Brien to shift inside to his favoured centre-back position, giving Moyes four options there. James Tarkowski and Michael Keane have signed new deals this season and will compete with Branthwaite and O’Brien for minutes. But Everton could do with planning for the future in central defence, perhaps by finding an emerging talent in the 18- to 21-year-old age bracket who could eventually displace Keane or Tarkowski. Everton plan to trigger their club option to extend left-back Vitalii Mykolenko’s deal for a further year, avoiding a situation where the Ukraine international leaves at the end of his current deal this summer. Further talks are expected over a longer term deal. Meanwhile, Adam Aznou is yet to convince Moyes since joining from Bayern Munich last summer — the 19-year-old Morocco international is yet to feature in a Premier League game for Everton — and cover will almost certainly be sought at left-back. Everton are keen to retain Gueye, 36, whose deal expires at the end of the season. The Athletic can reveal Gueye has not made enough Premier League starts (he is on 25 with one game of the season left) to automatically trigger a one-year club extension. As such, fresh talks will be needed to resolve his future. James Garner, a standout this season, is now viewed as the main man in the centre of the park. Capped by England this year, the 25-year-old also signed an improved, long-term deal to reward his form earlier in the campaign. Tim Iroegbunam has often filled in when Gueye is unavailable, but he has just one year remaining on his deal. Everton have a club option for a further year, with Iroegbunam having attracted significant interest in previous windows. There is still a sense they could do with a true No 6 to eventually replace Gueye, even if the Senegal international stays beyond the summer. Merlin Rohl will join permanently at the end of the season after the club avoided relegation, triggering the €20million ($23m; £17m) purchase option contained in his initial loan move from German side Freiburg. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, meanwhile, has quickly become a fixture for Moyes in the No 10 position, casting doubt over Carlos Alcaraz’s long-term future. When Everton signed the Argentinian permanently last summer after a successful loan spell, they re-negotiated his contract down to two years, with the club option of a further year. Rohl is also seen as an option at No 10. There are high hopes for young midfielder Harrison Armstrong, whose contract also contains a club option for a further year. The 19-year-old, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Preston North End, may yet be rewarded for his progress this season with improved terms. Everton have decisions to make over on-loan wingers Jack Grealish and Tyrique George. They are almost certain not to trigger the £50million ($67m) purchase option contained in the former’s loan deal from Manchester City, but would be interested in another temporary move. George’s option from Chelsea is around £25m but, despite some promising cameos, the 20-year-old has yet to force his way into Moyes’ starting line-up. Dwight McNeil has one year remaining and was deemed surplus to requirements in January, before a deadline-day move to Crystal Palace fell through last-minute, while Tyler Dibling, the initial £40million signing from Southampton last summer, has found himself on the periphery. Iliman Ndiaye is one of the squad’s leading lights but is likely to attract interest from top clubs this summer. At least one new winger will need to be signed. Maybe two, depending on other business. Everton must decide what to do with Beto, their in-form striker with just one year left on his deal. The Guinea-Bissau international has a club option for a further year in his contract. He has regained the starting No 9 role from Thierno Barry this season, with both players going through hot and cold spells during the campaign. The Athletic reported last month that Everton will assess their options in the striker position this summer and be alert to potential opportunities. Prolific under-21 forward Braiden Graham has spent most of the season playing on the left side, rather than in a central role. The sense is that the slight 18-year-old almost certainly needs a loan elsewhere before staking a claim for regular inclusion in Moyes’ squad. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms