Everton will be in the market for many new players this summer – but the club may be set to miss out on one defender target.
Everton have pulled clear of the relegation zone and the club’s safety will soon be confirmed.
But attention has already turned to next season, and fans are hoping for a really good first campaign at the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
It will be a busy summer for The Friedkin Group, because lots of players’ futures are uncertain.
Several stand to leave as free agents when their contracts expire, so in theory, the squad will be looking very different next season.
One player Everton have been linked with in recent months is Kyle Walker-Peters – but a claim has been made to suggest the Toffees have work to do.
Tottenham take lead in Kyle Walker-Peters transfer race after Everton interest
One position that Everton will look to strengthen this summer is right-back.
Both Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman are out of contract in the summer and realistically, neither should be options next season and should be allowed to depart, as is currently the plan.
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Of course, Jake O’Brien has been playing there over the past couple of months and done extremely well.
But Moyes has said O’Brien will eventually play in central defence, so Everton need to reinforce at right-back.
Kyle Walker-Peters has been on Everton’s radar for the last few months.
Like Coleman and Young at Everton, he’s out of contract in the summer at Southampton.
Due to that, he has interest from several clubs. And perhaps ominously for Everton, Tottenham Hotspur – who are Walker-Peters’ former club – are showing the most interest in the player according to Caught Offside.
Everton need to beat Spurs to Walker-Peters
Southampton have been hopeless this season, but Walker-Peters has been something of a shining light for the Saints.
And clearly, plenty of clubs feel he could do a job for them.
Everton are crying out for a new right-back, and Walker-Peters – hailed as ‘brilliant’ by his previous manager Russell Martin (via BBC Sport) – on a free just makes complete sense.
He’s got good experience in the Premier League, and the money Everton would save on signing him could then be put towards other positions.
But Spurs’ interest is a problem. Walker-Peters may feel he has unfinished business there, and he also left them on very good terms.