Season 2021-22 Opinion Talking Points

Everton's transfer review, next manager and other predictions

Everton are not enjoying the best of Premier League seasons by any stretch of the imagination.

It will take something special in the remainder of the season if they are to move away from the bottom half of the table.

Rafael Benitez paid the ultimate price for the Toffees' embarrassing domestic campaign as he was sacked at the weekend following a series of disappointing results. 

No Europe for Everton Again

Benitez's managerial tenure at Goodison got off to a flying start, with Everton winning four of their opening six matches of the 2021/22 Premier League season (D1, L1) and briefly looking like a good outside bet with bet365 Netherlands and other bookmakers as candidates for European football next season. 

However, they have since won just one of their subsequent 13 league games (D3, L9), losing three of the previous four (D1), including the last two in a row. 

An abysmal run of form saw the club chief relieve the Spaniards of his duties, particularly in the wake of a horrendous 2-1 defeat at Norwich City on Saturday. 

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the Toffees currently languish just six points clear of the drop zone, though they still have two games in hand on 18th-placed Norwich. 

Barring a miraculous comeback in the second half of the season, the Goodison faithful will have to settle for another lacklustre mid-table finish in all likelihood.

Seventh Permanent Manager in Six Years

With Benitez now out of the picture, Everton are on the lookout for a new permanent boss to take over going into the congested second half of the season.

Per Liverpool Echo, current Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez is the front-runner to replace the Spaniard in the dugout. 

The 48-year-old was in charge of the Toffees between 2013 and 2016.

After nearly six years at the Belgium national team, he could be enthusiastic about the prospect of returning to the realm of club management. 

Promising Transfer Window

Everton have been making the transfer news headlines in January.

Unsettled French left-back Lucas Digne swapped Goodison for Aston Villa, with the highly-rated Ukrainian youngster Vitaly Mykolenko arriving from Dynamo Kyiv to fill the void. 

In addition to the left-back position, the Toffees have also reinforced the opposite flank, as Nathan Patterson joined from Rangers in a deal worth around £16m. 

The 20-year-old is seen as a long-term replacement for ageing captain Seamus Coleman, though he spent Everton's trip relegation-battling Norwich on the bench. 

The same goes for Villa loanee Anwar El Ghazi, who sealed a six-month switch to Merseyside last week but was an unused substitute at Carrow Road last weekend. 

After a troublesome first half of the season at Villa Park, the 26-year-old moved to Goodison to revive his career.

Despite an underwhelming season in the West Midlands, El Ghazi could be a useful addition to Benitez's side as they aim to avoid being sucked into a relegation fight. 

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