Everton rounded off their 2023/24 season with a narrow defeat against title-chasing Arsenal but finished in 15th place.
A strong run in late-April to early-May ensured Premier League safety heading into the final run of games which made a change from the last two seasons. Sean Dyche helped the side to battle against huge barriers this season, namely points deductions, as Everton would have been much higher in the table after winning more games than Brighton this year.
Now, the attention moves on to the summer. Andre Gomes and Dele Alli are set to depart on free transfers and Arnaut Danjuma has returned to Villarreal but the squad needs work and potentially depth because there are still financial issues with the club and key figures such as Amadou Onana and Jarrad Branthwaite have been targeted. Therefore, we’ve decided to predict what Everton’s starting XI for next season could look like if the rumours are true.
1. GK - Jordan Pickford
Reliable, dependable and ever-improving; he recorded the fourth-best defence in the league and registered the second-most clean sheets behind David Raya.
2. RB - Yukinari Sugawara
Available for around £5m, according to reports, the fresh and energetic right-back could offer Everton a new dynamic.
3. CB - James Tarkowski
While he continues to maintain a high level of consistency, he has now completed two Premier League seasons in a row where he's started every game.
4. CB - Jarrad Branthwaite
It seems unlikely any club will fork out upwards of £70m for the defender this summer.