Everton’s summer is almost definitely going to be one predominantly dominated by misery rather than magical transfer moments.
After all, their financial predicament remains rather prevalent, and as such Kevin Thelwell and Sean Dyche will continue to operate with both hands tied behind their backs.
It is a position the Toffees have become accustomed to, but that does not mean that it is a standpoint they enjoy.
They will likely go for many targets, and miss out due to a lack of stature of financial incentive.
In this particular example, a lack of interest from Everton aside, they would have struggled to compete on both fronts.
Everton should have signed Ross Barkley
Ross Barkley seems set to move to Aston Villa, with the Midlands club now in talks with Luton Town over their star man.
The midfielder, who joined just last summer on a free transfer, quickly became a shrewd acquisition for Rob Edwards’ men and propelled them to some stunning performances.
He scored, assisted and drove with the ball at his feet with dynamism and purpose, something that the Toffees severely lack in their midfield.
Despite the £30k-a-week player never explicitly being linked with a Goodison Park return, it did seem like that’s where we might be headed, were the Hatters to fall to the drop.
And yet, it is Unai Emery’s Champions League side who have been the first to strike, and there is nothing but forgotten sentimentality that Dyche could now offer to try and tempt Barkley to re-join Everton.
That’s if he even wanted him at all.
Ross Barkley could have replaced Amadou Onana
With reports intensifying suggesting Amadou Onana will exit Everton this summer, and given Onana himself has spoken about wanting to leave, all signs are pointing towards the end of the road for player and club.
And whilst it has certainly been a profitable relationship, with the Toffees, benefitting from his power and grace in the midfield, it’s fair to say that the Belgian international has not quite lived up to the lofty expectations placed upon him.
Expected to be a dominant metronome-like figure in the engine room, dictating play and influencing games, he has instead been forced into a more defensive, stable figure, burdened by the lack of quality around him.
It is rather telling that, in the back-end of the campaign, Dyche even opted for the more functional Idrissa Gana Gueye, sacrificing style for substance and gaining terrific results.
However, Barkley could have provided a mix of the two, and for a cut price as well given Luton Town’s relegation.
He has been a stable and combative presence for the Hatters, yet has been willing to get stuck in when needed.
Unfortunately, for whatever reason, neither of these moves seem set to come to fruition just yet.
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