Everton's summer transfer window: Squad depth and cost-effective business

By Callum Castel-Nuovo

It has been a busy few months for Everton with the sudden exit of former manager Carlo Ancelotti. After Ancelotti's departure in June, the Everton board got to work and made the controversial appointment of former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.

Though Benitez's arrival has caused conflicting opinions amongst the Everton faithful, there have been some astute incomings at Goodison Park. The blues also find themselves heading into the international break in a promising position, with 7 out of a possible 9 points gained.

In recent transfer windows, Everton have targeted certain areas of the squad whilst leaving other areas short. Last season Everton bolstered the midfield with the arrivals of Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Rodriguez - leaving a lack of pace and threat on the wings as well as limited depth in the striker and goalkeeper positions.

However, this season Everton appear to have recovered their weaknesses on the flanks and their lack of depth. For a grand total of £1.7m, Demarai Gray, Andros Townsend, Salomon Rondon, Asmir Begovic and Andy Lonergan have checked in with the blues. Although these signings have raised a few eyebrows around the Premier League, it appears Everton know what they are doing.

Begovic brings an abundance of Premier League experience to cover any absences of Jordan Pickford, whilst Lonergan brings much required experience around the English leagues also. Rondon has viable experience in the Premier League with 35 goals to his name should there be any issues with Dominic Calvert-Lewin this season, providing solid backup for the striker.

With reinforcements for important positions, Everton have also found a cost-effective route to adding pace and threat to the wings. In previous seasons Everton have added Theo Walcott, Bernard and Yannick Bolasie to the wide areas, though they have come and gone without making a real impact. Despite Alex Iwobi being brought in from Arsenal to make a difference, his performances have left him struggling to hold down a regular place in the squad.

Gray's overall statistics were not sparkling with Bayer Leverkusen having only made twelve appearances in the Bundesliga with 1 goal and 2 assists to show for it. Despite this, he is a very nimble player with much needed pace to add to the Everton team. With questions being asked about Gray's time with Leverkusen and the lack of goal involvement, 2 goals in three games for the blues has alleviated those worries for now.

On the other hand, Everton know exactly what to expect from Andros Townsend having spent that last five years in the Premier League with Crystal Palace. The former England international does not come equipped with the amount of pace that Gray does, but with 1 goal, 5 assists and 7 big chances created during the 2020/21 season, the 30-year-old appears to bring attacking threat. These stats alone prove to be an upgrade on Bernard and Iwobi's combined 2 goals, 2 assists and 3 big chances created (Stats via FBref).

Townsend has been finding his way back to fitness since arriving at Goodison but provided 1 assist during his second start for Everton whilst also scoring a goal against Huddersfield in the cup during his first 90 minutes for the club.

Gray and Townsend are already making an impact at Everton within a short space of time and with the club looking for efficient wingers to cause attacking threat and feed Calvert-Lewin, it looks like these moves are heading in the right direction.

With the likes of Moise Kean, Bernard, Yannick Bolasie, Josh King and Theo Walcott leaving Goodison Park during the summer transfer window, Everton have freshened up the squad with new arrivals. Should the blues add a right-back during the January transfer window, the squad will be competing with a capable level of depth.