Farhad Moshiri opens new Everton talks after takeover twist and transfer pressure

The final whistle at the Emirates feels much longer than three weeks ago.

It came under the north London sunshine but amid a furore as Arsenal clinched a late win courtesy of a Kai Havertz goal that inexplicably survived a VAR review for handball by Gabriel Jesus in the build-up.

As had been clear for months, the end of that game was simply the starting pistol for more drama with Everton continuing to provide storylines while supporters at most clubs take a break during the close season. This is a look at everything that has happened since the season ended on May 19.

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The first developments of the post-season took place in the corridors of the Emirates. It was there, while Sean Dyche was reflecting on another dodgy - and costly - decision against his side that Seamus Coleman dropped the first of several hints that he would stay on for a 16th season at Goodison Park. Days earlier the club had announced its retained list, revealing the long-anticipated departure of Andre Gomes and that Dele and Andy Lonergan would also see their contracts expire at the end of June - though Dele will continue his rehabilitation from injury at Finch Farm. Neither Gomes nor Lonergan were in the squad for a final farewell, while Idrissa Gueye’s stay had been extended for 12 months after the club triggered a clause in his contract. New deals were offered to Coleman and Young too.

On his contract offer, Coleman said: “Now it's time to sit down and think about it but I make no secret about it, I absolutely love the football club, I feel like I have got a duty to help the football club while I still feel I can so we'll see where the next couple of weeks takes us. Listen, I'm enjoying it in terms of I love the football club and I've always said when wingers are skipping past me, I'll understand. I play against some top wingers in training as well and I still feel competitive like I'm not getting ran past five or six times a game."At the minute I know I'm not going to be up and down the wing and I'm not going to be playing 38 games a season but I also know the value I bring to the dressing room because I live in the city, I understand what the football club means and I can relay those messages to the players when the going gets tough. I absolutely idolise the football club so it was just about getting these games out of the way and we'll sit down and see what's next."

The 35-year-old has since echoed those comments while on international duty with Republic of Ireland. While new deals have not been announced by the club for him and his 38-year-old teammate, Young has been equally open about the prospect of another year on Merseyside. Asked late last month whether he wanted to stay at Everton, Young said: “Yeah I do. I’d love to play as long as possible, whether that’s going to be a one-year deal or two-year deal… I enjoyed my time this season, being there with the players and staff, it’s fantastic, a massive club and I’d love to go back and play another season there.”

The importance of Coleman and Young cannot be overstated. Dyche’s squad was threadbare last season and, as well as those whose contracts have expired, Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma will return to their parent clubs after a season on loan. There have also been departures in the academy too. Everton announced last week that Lewis Warrington, the 21-year-old academy graduate who made his Premier League debut against Sheffield United last month, would not be offered a new deal. He, like another departing academy player Mackenzie Hunt, was on the bench at Arsenal and his exit will end a 15 year spell with the club he joined as a schoolboy. Other youngsters who will leave when their deals expire include Kyle John and Katia Kouyate. Teenage attacker Kouyate has a move to League Two Barrow lined up.

The summer transfer window will open on Friday and the club is braced for interest in key players. There is an expectation that players will be sold, with a deal before the end of June likely to be useful to strengthen the club’s efforts to comply with Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) and avoid a further points deduction, which would apply next season. Newcastle United are interested in Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who the club has entered into discussions with over a new contract, while Amadou Onana and Jarrad Branthwaite are expected to be the subject of interest. Onana’s ambition is clear and his latest comments while away with Belgium hinted at an ambition to move on from Everton. He said: “I want to be a much better player. And my goal is to play for an international world club in three years. I also want to have qualified with Belgium for the 2026 World Cup in America in two years. I dream about that and I will do everything I can to make these dreams come true too. I have to and will answer this very professionally: I’m under contract with Everton – and I’ll leave everything else to the media. I’ll just do my best at the European Championships and then we’ll see.”

There is interest in Onana from both within the Premier League and across Europe but his responsibilities at the Euros may make it harder for a deal to be pursued. Branthwaite’s omission from the final England squad after making his debut against Bosnia last week therefore increases the prospect of Everton facing a battle to keep hold of one of Europe’s most promising defensive talents. Manchester United are one of several clubs who are interested and are expected to test the water towards the end of this month when Everton may be vulnerable to approaches before the end of the football financial year.

Precisely where Everton will stand from a PSR perspective remains unclear, with the ECHO revealing the club is still seeking clarity on an outstanding dispute with the Premier League over how the club accounted for interest on loans it said were for the new stadium development. The outcome of that argument, yet to be heard, could have a serious impact on the club’s calculations.

But the biggest source of uncertainty is the situation at the top of the club as majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri continues to try and engineer his exit from the Blues. On May 31 his share purchase agreement with 777 Partners expired without resolution. Not only has the US group’s bid effectively now ended, with the organisation having descended into legal and regulatory turmoil, the development has allowed rival bidders to step forward. Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor had suggested there were credible investors who believed Everton was still an opportunity with enormous potential with comments in late May that pointed at his own interest in the Blues - though he is unlikely to be able to sell his 45% shares in Palace in time to compete.

He does appear to have been correct. Since the expiration of the deal with 777 Partners there has been a flurry of interest with Moshiri now weighing up competing offers including proposals led by Andy Bell and George Downing, two successful Everton supporters, and one from London-based businessman Vatche Manoukian.

What happens next remains to be seen but the club has offered some clarity on its pre-season. An initial run of games has been revealed, with trips to Salford, Coventry City and Preston North End confirmed. More games are due to be announced. New hope for a positive resolution over the ownership saga is driving the agenda and what better symbol for the emergence of optimism than the addition of the Everton crest to the home team’s dressing room at the new stadium last week.