Everton are on their third full-time manager in little over a year, following the axing of Ronald Koeman and Sam Allardyce before the hiring of Marco Silva, but do you fancy making it four?
Taking charge of the Toffees on Football Manager 2019 is not a job to take lightly, even if the demands are not too taxing, as the blue half of Merseyside need success following a heavy summer transfer window and plans for a new stadium, even if not all the pieces of the puzzle are currently in place.
The board’s expectations
Take the Goodison Park job and expect a reasonably relaxed board when it comes to their demands, where only the Premier League and FA Cup are prioritised.
Even then, the minimum expectation is only a top half finish, along with an FA Cup fifth round appearance, meaning you don’t have to qualify for Europe to stay in the job.
The transfer war chest
As the Toffees are heavily in debt, with a balance due exceeding £50million, the transfer budget is barely there at £4.3m.
A wage allocation of £70,000 does leave some room to re-allocate funds, but as the league and FA Cup are the only important competitions to the board, you can get away with a thinner squad in your first season.
Three players to buy
Ramiro
Without a great deal to spend, you will be forced to look at cheaper options if you wish to improve your side.
One of the key areas the club would like you to improve is in attack, as the current crop are not rated too highly for their work off the ball or their end product.
A solid contender to add is Ramiro, who, with a value of £1.7million, has an off the ball rating of 15, 14 anticipation and 12 crossing.
Gustavo Bou
As Cenk Tosun is a serious contender to start, you’ll want to play Richarlison out on the wing, but that would leave you weak up top, meaning you must sign another striker to support your attack.
Racing Club’s Gustavo Bou is a superb budget option to strengthen your strike force, as the 28-year-old harbours 16 finishing, 15 anticipation and 15 technique.
Another possible candidate is David Villa, who may be 35, but would be an excellent addition for a year with his clinical finishing and a value of just £200k.
Frank Fabra
Leighton Baines would serve as an adequate understudy to Lucas Digne, but with the former first-team regular now 33, a younger alternative should be brought in for the long-term.
Colombian full-back Frank Fabra would easily be acquirable within the limited budget as the 27-year-old is valued at £2.8million. His £5,500-a-week wage demand would also free funds from that department for other areas of your squad.
Watch the video below to check out the hilarious things footballers get up to at Christmas…
Three players to sell
Morgan Schneiderlin
The Everton midfield ranks are not packed with talent, leaving Morgan Schneiderlin’s presence very questionable given he earns £100,000-a-week.
At 28, he should generate interest from potential suitors but at Everton, he would not challenge Idrissa Gueye for the starting defensive role, and Tom Davies presents a stronger back-up as he has the same ability level and great potential.
James McCarthy
Along with Schneiderlin, James McCarthy, who also has a similar starting rating to the rivals for his position, is another high earner who just isn’t good enough.
His injury at the start would make his departure tricky, but you should attempt to cash in on his £16.75million valuation, as he will not rival for a starting spot.
Oumar Niasse
Altogether, Everton have five options up front, but Oumar Niasse is the clear final resort thanks to a two and a half star rating in comparison to the rest of your squad.
It leaves the 28-year-old miles behind Cenk Tosun or Richarlison in the pecking order, yet he is valued at £11m.
Three for the future
Ademola Lookman
Ademola Lookman is by far the best youth player in the Toffees’ squad. The 20-year-old has attributes that make you consider starting the winger in your first-team, and he can develop into a top player in the Premier League.
Nikola Vlasic
Twenty-year-old Nikola Vlasic is the ideal creative midfielder in the Everton ranks to develop, as he can become a top player who could one day replace Gylfi Sigurdsson.
You’ll have to watch his progress from afar in the first year, however, as the Croatian is away on loan with Russian Premier League side CSKA Moscow.
Lewis Gibson
Seventeen-year-old left-back Lewis Gibson is a great teenager to have around the squad for the early cup rounds, as well as on the the bench should Lucas Digne or Leighton Baines pick up any injuries.
Unfortunately, he’ll never become a first-team star at Goodison Park but he does provide solid back-up.
