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Everton contract admission made as 13 players could leave after Friedkin Group takeover

Sean Dyche arrives at the Portman Road prior to the Premier League match between Ipswich Town FC and Everton FC. Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


The contracts of 13 senior players are set to expire at Everton this summer, a prospect that offers both risk and opportunity. As it stands, a core of a dozen players would remain - including key stars such as Jordan Pickford and Jarrad Branthwaite. Adding the framework around them would be complicated and challenging across what would have to be a very busy summer.

But that process would provide a chance to reshape the playing squad in what would be one of several clear signs the Farhad Moshiri reign is over, should prospective new owners The Friedkin Group get their deal for the club over the line.

Any rebuild could also be done in line with the plans of the manager and director of football chosen to lead the club into the new stadium, whether that be Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell, whose contracts are also due to end in the summer, or new faces picked by TFG.

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Before then, those who are currently at the club will have to navigate the new year, and a January transfer window that will represent the final opportunity to bring in fees for those players on expiring contracts.

For Dyche, it means overseeing a second half of the season during which more than half of the senior squad could be playing with uncertainty over their future.

Asked whether juggling so many contract calls alongside the demands of the season causes him any concern, Dyche said: “You can only juggle if you have got finance to juggle with, usually. Finance hasn’t been something we have had lots of so we will just have to wait and see, with the possible new ownership, possible view of ‘what is’, possible view of players being sold, we will have to wait and see. These are the shifting sands of a club like this, you can’t lay everything down and say ‘this is all going to happen’ because financially you are not in a position to say this is all going to happen. So we will try to work on the reality, rather than ifs, buts and maybes.

“Certainly for now [it means focusing on Finch Farm]. We don’t know what will change if The Friedkin Group comes in and gets the club. That might change things but at the moment we don’t know that.”

Dyche looking to chart path through 'peaks and troughs'

As well as attempting to maintain perspective on the takeover and what it may mean for squad building, Dyche is also intent not to get carried away by form. Beto’s last-minute equaliser against Fulham may have come against the run of play but it allowed Everton to stretch their unbeaten league run to five games. That follows a start to the season in which the Blues lost their first four.

Dyche is insistent that the long-term view is better than getting caught in the emotions of week-by-week results. Arguing the merits of a more measured judgement on where Everton are at this season, he said: “Against Bournemouth we were 10 minutes away from sealing that one off, what happened was a mad 10 minutes that I have never seen in football, not on my watch.

“You’re a wonder goal away from getting a good point at Villa, and then the story has changed anyway. They are the margins in football that can change the whole viewpoint but if they were now the other way round then everyone would be saying we had had a fantastic start to the season. That’s how fine the lines are… the peaks and troughs of a Premier League season are virtually for everyone apart from the super power clubs.

“Every season is like that so you can’t go ‘woe is me’ because you’ve lost a few games, whether it is the beginning of the season or the end of the season, you have to go ‘look, this is the challenge in front of me, these are the realities’. You still have to pick out the bits and ask: Were we that bad [during the first four games]? Well not really.”

A chance to meet Everton’s deadline day signings

With half-term now in full sway in many areas, there will be no shortage of people searching for something to entertain young Blues. Well, there is an opportunity to meet two of the club’s transfer deadline day signings this week.

On Thursday afternoon Orel Mangala and Armando Broja are currently scheduled to be at the club’s Everton One store, next to Goodison, from 2pm. Supporters will be able to have pictures with the players and get items signed. While fans can take their own merchandise to be signed, the club requests only one item is brought per person. The event will be limited to the first 100 people - so it is worth getting there early to secure your spot.

Be at Goodison for historic double header

Also this week is the first of the historic double header at Goodison for Everton Women. Brian Sorensen’s team host Chelsea on Sunday evening (November 3, 6.45pm KO) then it is the Merseyside derby, with Liverpool visiting on Sunday, November 17 (3pm KO). Tickets are on sale for both matches and are available via the club's website.

Programme fair offers further entertainment during international break

The day before that Merseyside derby at Goodison, Saturday, November 16, Everton Heritage Society will be hosting its own event for supporters to get involved in.

The group is due to hold a programme fair at St Luke’s Church on Goodison Road from 10.30am to 1pm (£1 admission). Like with the women’s derby the event will be a perfect opportunity to get a taste of the Blues during the November international break.