Everton under Marcel Brands are trimming the deadwood, looking to lower the average age of the squad and sign young talent that can develop in years to come. The Toffees want to push for a top-four finish next season with a squad that grows together and is moulded into the image of their manager.
Where will Everton finish in the Premier League?
1-4
5-7
8-13
14-20
Everton have given Mason Holgate (aged 23), Tom Davies (21), Alex Iwobi (23), Anthony Gordon (19), Richarlison (22), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (23) and Moise Kean (20) 11,223 minutes in all competitions this season while Maarten Stekelenburg (37), Cuco Martina (30), Morgan Schneiderlin (30), Gylfi Sigurdsson (30), Cenk Tosun (28) and Oumar Niasse (29) could all be moved on over the summer.
The Merseysiders have been linked with 22-year-old Lille defender Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães, and 22-year-old Manchester City defender Tosin Adarabioyo, but they’re also targeting young attacking talent to develop in their youth academy before pushing for the first-team – one of whom is Anthony Weston, says The Sun.
The 16-year-old plays for Blackpool and made his senior debut for the Seasiders in December 2019. He’s been linked with Southampton, Leeds United and Rangers, so Everton may have their work cut out trying to bring him to Goodison Park. There’s a clear pathway for young players to the first-team, so Weston would be at the perfect club for his development, however.
Weston, a Liverpudlian, scored 14 goals for the u18s early this season and caught the eye of Simon Grayson. He was subsequently named on the bench in Blackpool’s EFL Cup defeat to Scunthorpe in November and made his debut in their FA Cup win over Maidstone United in December, so interest from clubs could rise now the secret is out.