Vinny O'Connor names 2 areas Everton want to strengthen before Aug 30

Sky Sports reporter Vinny O’Connor has provided an Everton transfer update and identified two key positions the club could look to strengthen before the 30 August transfer deadline.

The Blues have been active in the market with Tim Iroegbunam, Iliman Ndiaye, Jasper Lindstrom and Jake O’Brien arriving at Goodison Park this summer, while Jack Harrison has returned for another year on loan from Leeds United.

Reporting for Sky Sports live from Finch Farm (1 August, 09:28), O’Connor said Sean Dyche will look to strengthen in central midfield and full-back and has earmarked those two positions as weaknesses in the side.

He said: “When you look at it, in an ideal world, you look at someone like Idrissa Gana Gueye – Everton would like a like-for-like replacement for him. Nobody there has the same skillset.

“Further down the line, there is still an issue at full-back. While Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman can still do a job in the Premier League, they’re coming towards the end of their careers.

“So again, that’s an area Everton could look at. But it may be that they’re done in this window unless others move on.”

Everton need to continue transfer activity to compete next season

Even the most pessimistic Everton fans could not have predicted how this summer has turned out for the Blues.

The Toffees have recruited in several key positions and sent a statement to the rest of the Premier League with the signing of O’Brien and their approach to Manchester United’s pursuit of Jarrad Branthwaite.

Amadou Onana’s sale to Aston Villa for £50m significantly boosted the transfer kitty as the Blues needed to navigate the waters of the Profit and Sustainability rules before the real work could begin to rebuild the side.

Dyche performed miracles with his side last season when securing a 15th-placed finish in the league after two years of flirting with relegation. Indeed, had they not received an eight-point overall deduction for breaching PSR, the Toffees would have finished in 12th place.

But with James Garner and Idrissa Gueye the only two senior options in holding midfield, and the latter now 34-years-old, a replacement is needed – a long-term injury to either player could leave Everton in a difficult position.

Nathan Patterson and Vitalii Mykolenko are options at full-back, but Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young are both over the age of 35 and that speaks volumes about their long-term future at the club.

It could be the case that the Toffees’ transfer business is now over, but there is a rare opportunity for the club to capitalise on their momentum in the transfer market and build a side capable of pushing towards the European places this season.

In other Everton news, Alan Myers has issued an update as the Toffees want to sign a player Pep Guardiola called ‘exceptional’.

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