Everton

Everton risk losing England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer in 2025 after a halt in contract talks with the 27-year-old. (Football Insider), external

Six Premier League clubs - Chelsea, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester - face having to sell players before the end of June in order to comply with the division's Profit and Sustainability Rules. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, The FA via Getty Images

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite has been left out of England's 26-man squad for Euro 2024.

The 21-year-old centre-back had been included in Gareth Southgate's preliminary 33-man squad, but will not be in the final 26 travelling to Germany for the tournament starting on 14 June.

Branthwaite had an impressive breakthrough season with the Toffees, becoming a mainstay in their backline and featuring in 35 of their 38 Premier League games.

His form earned him his first senior call-up in March and he made his international debut coming off the bench during the Three Lions' 3-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday.

The left-footed centre-back was part of the England Under-21 squad that won the European Championship last summer.

Lewis Dunk, Joe Gomez, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker will be Southgate's defensive options at Euro 2024.

We asked for you for your thoughts on what Everton's summer priority is.

Here is a selection of your responses:

Daniel: Number one priority is to keep our best players. If we sell our most valuable assets then it's another step backwards for Everton.

Chris: Finances. Are we selling to buy? Selling to avoid points deductions? Selling to survive? It's hard to believe that a founder member of the league, the club that has spent the longest time in the top flight, a superb fan base and a distinguished trophy history cannot attract a buyer. Still, August is another season.

Bill: The club needs stability - a vision for the whole club. Sell surplus and money-making players, give fans hope of better things to come, sort out who owns the club, and buy well - not the rubbish we have seen in recent years. And have a good holiday.

Martin: We must have absolute clarity around the finances and any new ownership. I can't believe it all feels so uncertain - still! We need transparency/honesty which I would hope bring togetherness/solidarity. If we lose Branthwaite, a replacement is key. Then we need more goals! A creative midfielder and striker from seemingly thin air.

Shaun: Sorting out ownership has to be the biggest priority. It casts a shadow over everything else that is done at Everton. There's no hope for a brighter future at the club until we know Moshiri's shares have been sold.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton are going to "have to be clever" in the transfer window to bolster squad for next season, says Unholy Trinity podcaster Mike Richards.

The Toffees confirmed a number of academy players and graduates would be leaving the club this summer after being released, including Lewis Warrington.

The 21-year-old featured in eight matchday squads towards the end of the season and made his debut off the bench in Everton's final home game against Sheffield United.

Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside's Total Sport, Richards said: "Warrington was a standout name. People were looking at him 18 months or two years ago as one we could utilise in the squad. He went on loan, got injured, came back and that obviously hampered things for last season.

"Does he fit into Sean Dyche's style? Possibly not. But he was full of praise for him in training and he got a few minutes at the end of the season so it's more of a surprise as he had been part of squads at the back end of the campaign."

There are questions about what business Everton might be able to do in the transfer market this summer, as uncertainty continues over the club's ownership situation.

"With the squad being so thin, any youngsters we have been using on the bench have now got to be replaced this summer, and the question is - where is the money coming from in terms of bringing in new players in?" added Richards.

"The club says there isn't a cash flow issue but there are murmurings of that and we know things are tight. When you release so many players, whether youngsters or first-team players, that is fine if the manager doesn't think they're good enough, but you have to replace those players and how do we go about doing that?

"That is the big thing this summer, what can we do? We are going to have to be clever."

Listen to the full programme on BBC Sounds

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Everton have confirmed three away pre-season friendlies in the build-up to the 2024-25 Premier League campaign.

Sean Dyche's side will face League Two team Salford City on Saturday, 27 July and three days later they will take on Championship side Coventry City.

Their last stop will be Deepdale as they take on second-tier club Preston North End on Saturday, 3 August.

Everton are planning a move for 27-year-old English defender Max Lowe, who is set to leave Sheffield United when his contract runs out this summer. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Everton fans dreamt of surviving in the Premier League and no doubt they promised themselves a summer break from the stress, uncertainty and heartache.

Unfortunately this is not a position they can enjoy at the moment, as Farhad Moshiri has failed again in his bid to sell the club to US-based consortium 777 Partners.

We all know that buying a football club isn't like popping down to the club shop and buying the new replica kit with your favourite player's name and number on the back, but how complicated can it be?

This has rumbled on for the best part of a year now. Other rumblings can be heard menacingly in the background about 777's suitability, and what level of certainty and security they can offer the Toffees if they get their act together.

Everton fans, rather than being relieved and happy about Premier League survival, are actually the most worried fans in the entire league. For all the hope, the reality is that they are in limbo.

Pat Nevin was writing for the BBC Football Extra newsletter

Manchester United are interested in signing Everton and England defender Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, as they look to strengthen their defensive options. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

The club summer is off and running, so what's the first thing that needs sorting out at Everton?

Is it a contract, a transfer, a fan issue or something else?

Let us know your thoughts here, external

Jordan Pickford earned his 61st England cap in the win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, moving level with Ray Clemence, with only Peter Shilton (125), Joe Hart (75), David Seaman (75) and Gordon Banks (73) earning more caps for the national team among goalkeepers.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal will reluctantly let England international Eddie Nketiah leave the club, with Fulham prepared to offer around £30m for the forward. The 25-year-old is also interesting Everton, Crystal Palace and Wolves. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Everton fans, we asked for your views on what needs to happen to the club and what the best outcome would be following the news that the agreement with 777 Partners expired over the weekend.

Here are some of your responses:

Jeff: I believe a German style model of ownership is a much better option for elite sports teams. German clubs follow the 50+1 rule, which promotes fan involvement and influence in decision-making processes. Under this rule, club members must hold a voting majority. Money is too important in the current Premier League model and it is damaging sport.

Carl: Everton are founding members of the Football League and the Premier League. They have been in the top league for more years than any other club and are also one of the most successful English clubs ever. Add to that the massive fan base and a soon to be world class stadium, there should be a line of investors eager to take over.

David: We need to finish the new stadium and move in as a Premier League club. Get the debt burden reduced or consolidated into a more manageable payment structure. Our owner needs to find suitable investors with Everton's best interests at heart to take the club forward and run it in a professional way. Right now it's run like a circus by a clown.

Steve: Given that we don’t know who all the interested parties are, it’s really not possible to make a rational judgement. However, saying that, at this stage I would not be disappointed if John Textor became our next majority shareholder.

Barry: The best option is for Moshiri to walk away and hand the club to someone who can pay the debts off, finish the stadium and then build the team from firm financial foundations. No more “billionaire plaything” - our club deserves better than that.

Dom: We just need some stability, this whole season feels like a horrific rollercoaster. We just need a decision on how the club is moving forward. Fans need to be kept in the loop. It's a fans' club after all.

Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It's around nine months that 777 Partners have been around Everton.

Some fans are asking why their attempted takeover has dragged on so long but the Premier League's Owners' and Directors' Test doesn't have a timeframe on it. Also, Farhad Moshiri gave them this amount of time.

It doesn't mean though the situation is grim. It also doesn't mean there wasn't a plan B or C in place. That's now the direction the club will go in.

Reaction has been positive in a strange way even though it leaves more questions. I know a lot of fans didn't take to 777. It's important to say though they have invested in the club. They provided loans of around £200m to Everton. There will still be a working relationship now.

I think fans are wanting a situation now where relatively quickly someone else comes forward. I think what everyone needs to realise now is talks can now take place. There are other groups who have made unsolicited approaches but before this deadline, they could not be advanced. Now those talks can continue in more detail. Moshiri will be doing that. Then we may get another Premier League Owners' and Directors' Test.

You look at what Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell have to do, both have been working to boost a small squad. New deals have been offered to Seamus Coleman, Ashley Young and Idrissa Gueye. You don't really know how much money you'll have to play with and I can't see a takeover being resolved in this transfer window.

One thing though is Everton won't be bullied. There won't be a fire sale. They worked incredibly hard to bring the wage bill down and outgoings down. Like the majority of clubs, if a huge offer comes in for a player and a player wants to leave, they'll probably have to take it. But there won't be a fire sale at Everton.

Listen to Giulia speak about the situation on BBC Radio Merseyside here

Everton's owners are going to "assess all options for future ownership" after their agreement with 777 Partners for the sale of the club expired over the weekend.

What needs to happen now? What would be the best outcome for the club?

Let us know your thoughts here, external

Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It's deadline day for the American-based consortium who have been trying to complete their takeover of Everton for nine months but you will be hard pushed to find anyone who thinks this deal will go through.

777 Partners have been given several opportunities to meet the necessary requirements but have so far failed to sign it off.

The Share Purchase Agreement runs until 5am on Saturday in the UK, midnight in New York.

Once that passes the club’s majority shareholder, Fahad Moshiri, will look at other investment opportunities and hold formal talks with any interested parties.

Officials insist Everton remains financially stable right now.

The director of football, Kevin Thelwell, and the manager, Sean Dyche, have both been open that there could be sales this summer but they don’t necessarily have to off-load players to comply with Profit and Sustainability rules and they are adamant they will not sell anyone for cheap in a “fire-sale.”

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Everton have opened talks with striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin over a new contract.

Calvert-Lewin's current deal expires next summer.

The 27-year-old joined the Toffees from Sheffield United for £1.5m in 2016 and has scored 68 goals in 248 games for the club.

Meanwhile, BBC Sport understands Everton will not allow key players to leave on the cheap this summer.

Earlier this month, director of football Kevin Thelwell said the club will need to trade sustainably because of their financial situation

Prized asset Jarrad Branthwaite has been linked with a move to Manchester United and reports suggest an £80m price tag has been put on the defender.

Chelsea and Albania forward Armando Broja is wanted by Everton, Crystal Palace and Wolves. (Ben Jacobs on X), external

Everton have told Manchester United to forget about trying to sign centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite on the cheap. The Toffees want twice the £40m Manchester United are hoping to sign him for. (Mirror), external

Meanwhile, Everton have registered their interest in re-signing 30-year-old English midfielder Ross Barkley from Luton Town, but they are set to lose out to Aston Villa. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Football journalist Henry Winter has been speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside about Sean Dyche's impact at Everton during a difficult 18 months: "That is why Sean Dyche is so good because he will take all these things in his stride.

"He has been the voice of the club when other people maybe should have spoken up. He has been the fighter in the dressing room, he has stirred the players up, making sure they are focused and getting the points.

"In the end Everton stayed up quite easily. You have a fire going on there and you needed a firefighter. One or two people have problems with Dyche's style of football but in one of the darkest hours in your history you have this beacon of light, this strong individual. Players respond to him, fans respond to him and I just think he has been magnificent for Everton.

"I think he has always felt a little bit like [he doesn't get credit he deserves]. When he was at Burnley and I would speak to him or a player there, he would always say he doesn't get the credit he deserves and maybe it is more fashionable to go abroad.

"But, he is a very good manager. People listen to the voice and look at him and think he is a bouncer outside his beloved old club he used to go to in Manchester. But what they don't realise is if you went to the training ground at Burnley when he was there, how much it changed under him.

"There is a lot more to Dyche than perceived. He is a good manager who thinks deeply about the game, but the most important thing is he cares deeply about Everton Football Club."

Listen to the full Everton special on BBC Sounds

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has been discussing the current situation at Everton, as 777 Partners' takeover looks increasingly unlikely to reach completion before the deadline on Friday, 31st May.

"I think it is a challenging position for Farhad Moshiri, the club and 777 Partners," Maguire told Total Sport Merseyside. "They have all got consequences.

"From what we understand, 777's period of exclusivity to acquire Everton Football Club expires at the end of May. That also may coincide with one of the big loans to the club being due for repayment at the same time.

"How that was going to be funded and organised, Farhad Moshiri probably thought that was going to be 777's problem rather than his.

"So, it is a tricky position but it is in everybody's interests for Everton Football Club to carry on.

"I think all of the stakeholders in this situation realise that, including the Premier League who have put some fairly significant obstacles in the way of 777 Partners buying the club."

On whether the administration rumours are wholly correct, Maguire added: "I think in terms of administration, there are other parties interested in the club. I would think at least one of them has done the sums.

"If a football club goes into administration - and you buy that club from the administrators - you only buy the assets and you don't inherit any of the debt. Therefore, you could buy Everton Football Club for a price which may be cheaper than buying it from Farhad Moshiri.

"You don't have to pay MSP, you don't have to repay 777, you don't have to repay any of the other lenders - so you can see the benefits in that.

"The downsides are potential job losses, suppliers taking a significant cut to what they are owed, and the Premier League would take steps to address it.

"So there are positives and negatives to administration."

Listen to the full Everton takeover special here