Welcome to the Liverpool ECHO 's Monday recap blog for all your latest Everton news, rumours and transfer gossip.
The ECHO will provide breaking stories, reaction and comment to all the big talking points from Goodison Park as well as keeping tabs on transfer market gossip from around the world.
Tottenham are being strongly linked with a move for Everton forward Richarlison, while the Blues could miss out on the free transfer of Hoffenheim midfielder Florian Grillitsch
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Key Events
Fans' forum vote now open
The vote to elect 3 Evertonians to the Fans’ Forum is now open.
— Everton Fans' Forum (@EFC_FansForum) June 13, 2022
Evertonians with a customer number have until midnight on 23 June to cast their vote.
Please take time to read the bios of these Blues who want to help give you a say on our Club. https://t.co/YVdkAGZaeR
Everton want 'five new players this summer'
Everton's transfer business is set to pick up in the near future - with a report tonight claiming that 'five new players' could be on their way to Goodison Park.
After a season in which the Toffees avoided relegation on their penultimate matchday, the club will be looking to bounce back with a strong campaign. In order to do so, Frank Lampard will be looking to inject some fresh ideas into the squad in terms of players. First on the agenda, a deal for out-of-contract Burnley defender James Tarkowski looks close to being completed.
And according to The Telegraph, Lampard is hoping to do business with his former club Chelsea for midfielders Billy Gilmour and Conor Gallagher. Gilmour endured a tough season on loan at relegated Norwich City, while Gallagher had the opposite with Crystal Palace, playing a major role in their FA Cup semi-final run and picking up his first England senior cap under Gareth Southgate.
The Telegraph report adds: "Lampard is hoping to sign as many as five new players this summer. James Tarkowski has agreed a free transfer move after his Burnley contract expired and there is interest in Chelsea midfielders Conor Gallagher and Billy Gilmour, as well as Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Winks. Spurs are prepared to offer Winks and Lucas Moura as part of an offer to sign Richarlison, who Everton value at well over £50m."
Read the full story HERE.
Mykolenko sings Coleman's praises
Vitaly Mykolenko has revealed the messages of support he received from Everton captain Seamus Coleman on his arrival at the club, just before the January transfer window opened.
As per the Irish Independent, speaking ahead of Ukraine's Nations League match against the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday evening, Mykolenko said: "On December 31, I met this person [Coleman] on the first day of training.
"New Year’s Eve is a really great celebration for all Ukrainians. I was alone in the hotel and he wrote to me a message, to say 'I will always be there for you and if you need some help just contact me and I will be there'."
Mykolenko also explained how he has been supported since war broke out in his home country and why it made the Blues' relegation danger seem trivial. He added: "I received messages from Everton, and the whole club supports me, and there is also the support from all the countries that we have played in. All the people are supporting us.
"It wasn't that difficult a time for me, before the war I thought that my problems were the biggest and now I realise they are small problems. When the war started I would only think about my country and my team and do my best."
Everton takeover report emerges
Everton have remained tight-lipped over suggestions they have been targeted for a surprise takeover bid - just days after Farhad Moshiri reaffirmed his commitment to the club.
Peter Kenyon is leading a consortium that wants to buy Everton and initial talks have already taken place, according to a new report.
On Tuesday evening, the Telegraph claimed former Manchester United and Chelsea CEO Kenyon is spearheading a group that includes the chief executive of Minneapolis-based Talon Real Estate, Maciek Kaminski, and American businessman John Thornton. The consortium is believed to be taking advice from US law firm Weil, Gotshal and Manges along with investment specialist Michael Klein.
The report suggests talks are at a “relatively early stage”, but that heads of terms may already be in place - signalling the intent to progress. Owner Farhad Moshiri values Everton in excess of £500million, including the club's debts, according to the Telegraph article.
Kenyon's consortium will apparently seek assurances that the club will not be subject to a heavy fine or points deduction in relation to financial fair play rules before entering into any formal agreement. Everton insist they remain compliant and have comfortable headroom regarding the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations.
Everton have not commented on the takeover speculation at this stage. But last week, Moshiri spoke on his plans for the Blues in an open letter to supporters.
Read the full story HERE.
'We want to be aggressive' - Says new Women's boss
New manager Brian Sorensen has insisted that it’s important for the players in his Everton Women side to “know what our identity is” as he called for them to try and implement a style of play that is both possession-based and aggressive. The Blues saw two bosses leave the club last season as Willie Kirk departed on October 16 while Jean-Luc Vasseur, who won the Champions League with Lyon in 2020 was, sacked after just 10 games in charge on February 1.
Dane Sorensen, 41, who joins Everton after a second spell in charge of Fortuna Hjorring in his homeland, told evertontv : “We want to be aggressive and we want to be proactive – I think that is the key word – in everything we do. That is with the ball and without the ball.
“We want to have control over games, and you do that by keeping possession. We need to make sure the players know what our identity is and implement that day in, day out. All the details matter.”
Read the full story HERE.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin opens up on 'difficult' season
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has revealed that his injury problems this season forced him “to do a lot of soul searching” as Everton battled to retain their Premier League status without him.
Calvert-Lewin returned to fitness to head in a dramatic winner just five minutes from full-time in Everton’s final home match of the season to complete a 3-2 comeback victory over Crystal Palace and secure the club’s Premier League status.
However, with the England international – who was the Blues’ top scorer with 21 goals in all competitions in 2020/21 – out for over four months from late August to January with a quadriceps injury, the team struggled badly without him.
Speaking to Notion magazine, Calvert-Lewin explained how his off-the-field interests, helped him through his tough times and said: “Music can be almost a healer to get through difficult periods.
“It’s difficult because first and foremost, I’m a footballer and that’s my bread and butter. Getting injured is the worst thing that can happen and you’re not able to perform.
“So then you just have to kind of sit there and accept what people have to say. And I think it’s forced me this season to do a lot of soul searching and find who I am.”
Read the full story HERE.
Steinsson takes on new role
Former Everton head of recruitment and development Gretar Steinsson has accepted an opening at fellow Premier League side, Tottenam Hotspur.
Steinsson left the Blues in December, following director of football Marcel Brands out the door at Goodison Park, and has now been appointed performance director at Spurs.
That's according to the Athletic, who add Steinsson is expected to have a 'wide remit across senior and youth levels at the north London club and work closely with managing director of football Fabio Paratici.'
Noa Lang could be Everton answer to Mohamed Salah as tantalising transfer given backing
Noa Lang has been backed to make a transfer to Everton with his style of play incredibly similar to one of the biggest stars across Stanley Park.
Former Premier League manager David Webb, who has worked in scouting and recruitment roles at 11 European clubs, reckons the 22-year-old would be a good fit for the Blues and he told the Athletic : “The Premier League will be tempting for a player who is now a full international and involved in the Netherlands’ current Nations League campaign.
“Arsenal have scouted him. Where Antonio Conte’s system at Spurs might be too rigid to incorporate him, he’s the type of player who might make an impact at a side like Aston Villa, Everton or Newcastle.”
Just what sort of player is the Club Brugge man, though? Although listed as a winger, he actually operated as a centre-forward in 93% of his matches for the Belgian side in 2021/22 and his style of play seems to reflect the kind of modern, flexible forward that could appeal to Frank Lampard and Kevin Thelwell, able to operate both centrally and down the flanks.
Chris Beesley has the full story, here.
Holgate: My best years are to come
Mason Holgate has insisted supporters are yet to see the best of him in an Everton shirt.
The 25-year-old made 20 appearances in all competitions for the Blues last term and helped Frank Lampard's side avoid relegation from the top-flight.
In what can only be described as a difficult campaign for all concerned, Holgate is hopeful his individual displays will continue to improve with age.
“I have the best years to come and am looking forward to them,” he told evertonfc.com.
“I believe I can bring a lot to this club. I view myself as one of the leaders in the changing room, I am vocal and have been here a long time. So, 100 per cent, I see my future here, because I believe I am good enough to go on and help move the Club forwards to where it wants to be.
“Centre-backs often reach their prime at 29 or 30. When I reach those ages, with more experience under my belt, I will be at my peak."
Kevin Thelwell explains two crucial aspects of Everton director of football job
Kevin Thelwell has lifted the lid on the extent of his role at Everton away from the men's first team.
The director of football was appointed on Merseyside towards the end of February and has been hard at work already in recent weeks in his new position. Working together with Frank Lampard and the rest of the recruitment team, a big part of his job in the near future will concern transfers around the senior men's setup.
However, that's not the full extent of his role. Thewell has also made himself known at academy level, with the backroom team and with the women's sides as he gets to grips with all aspects of the club he has joined - making sure that everyone can move forwards together in the right manner.
Speaking to former Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard last week, the director of football gave an overview of what he has been doing away from the men's first team. And, he included a brief explanation of the two principles he wants to bring into any club he works for, with the Blues being no different.
Thelwell remarked: "The director of football job description here is broad, so it's very much about supporting the first team of course but then supporting all of the other departments that help us try and win.
To read more, click here.
Fiorentina winning Grillitsch race
Fiorentina are reportedly leading the race to sign Hoffenheim midfielder Florian Grillitsch on a free transfer this summer.
The Austrian international is out of contract at the end of the month and has not signed a new deal with his current employers.
Everton have been mentioned as a possible destination for the 26-year-old in recent weeks, though Austrian newspaper Die Presse Am Sonntag have stated Fiorentina are the frontrunners in the race to recruit Grillitsch on a Bosman.
Blues holding out for £50m+ for Richarlison
Everton will demand in excess of £50million if they are to sell Richarlison this summer.
The Brazilian forward has been linked with a move away from Goodison Park, with the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur said to be interested in a deal.
A latest report by the Daily Mail has suggested the Blues will demand over £50m if the 25-year-old should he be sold as the club looks to recoup as much money as possible for a player signed from, Watford for a fee close to that figure.
Frank Lampard and Kevin Thelwell told where Everton transfer priority lies after James Tarkowski
Everton fans have told Frank Lampard and Kevin Thelwell where the club's next transfer priority should lie.
The Blues are said to be closing in on their first arrival of the summer transfer window, with reports suggesting James Tarkowski is nearing a free transfer to Merseyside. The centre-back has left Burnley upon the expiry of his contract and is on the hunt for a new club ahead of the 2022/23 term.
The potential arrival of the defender at Goodison Park could be the start of a busy window for Everton, with numerous players already having their departures confirmed after their deals expired. The Blues need to add quality into multiple positions of the squad, but what should be the next priority for the recruitment team?
We put the question to supporters on Twitter on Sunday, with more than 2,700 responding to the poll to have their say. And the answer was rather clear.
Adam Jones has more, here.
Morning Blues
Good morning Toffees. Stick with our live blog today for all the latest on all things Everton.
