Everton favourites clear as almost every supporter wants deals done for two players
An ECHO survey found that more than nine of every 10 respondents wanted Carlos Alcaraz and Idrissa Gueye to remain at the club after their current deals expire
David Moyes in the thick of an Everton training session with his players
David Moyes in the thick of an Everton training session with his players(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC Official Photography Library/SmartFrame)
Almost every Everton supporter wants the club to keep two players beyond the summer, an ECHO poll has found.
The Blues face a huge period of transition with 15 of the first team squad on deals that, as it stands, will see them leave the club at the end of the season.
Some of those will stay as extensions are offered and, potentially, clauses in loan deals triggered. But work up to now has focused instead on ensuring Everton are a Premier League club next season, when they move into their state-of-the-art new home on the banks of the River Mersey.
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With Jake O’Brien’s late header securing a draw at Brentford in midweek, those fears have largely been extinguished – though manager David Moyes remained reluctant to celebrate a job well done as he travelled to Abu Dhabi for warm weather training with the players.
It means attention can begin to turn to the squad overhaul this summer and, when the ECHO asked who supporters would like to keep, two players had particularly emphatic responses.
Top of the list was loan signing Carlos Alcaraz, who arrived from Flamengo in the final hours of the January transfer window.
Everton will trigger an obligation to buy the 22-year-old should he start a certain number of games and his early displays have Blues supporters hopeful they will take advantage. Just over 98% of respondents said they wanted to see Alcaraz, who played a match-winning role at Crystal Palace in his first start, to still be on Merseyside next year.
Just behind him was Idrissa Gueye, another player who received overwhelming support for an extension, with 92.5% hoping the Senegal international will extend his second stint at Everton.
Beyond that, Jordan Pickford’s deputy Joao Virginia (78.3%) and Abdoulaye Doucoure (66.8%), a player who has stamped his name into club folklore with his survival-clinching goal against Bournemouth, were both players the majority of supporters hoped would remain.
Club legend Seamus Coleman achieved 54.8% support – with only his injury record likely to have been the reason for that not being higher. The club captain remains a significant influence behind closed doors and a move into the backroom staff would likely be welcomed by most. Jesper Lindstrom, on loan from Napoli, has done just about enough in Moyes’ short tenure for 50.9% to want Everton to trigger their option to buy the winger from Napoli in a deal that would be worth around £20m.
Beyond that, there was still work to be done for the rest of those whose futures are in doubt to convince supporters who responded they should stay. Third-choice goalkeeper Asmir Begovic received the backing of 41.9% but only around one third hoped Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Armando Broja, both of whom have suffered with serious injuries this year, would stay on. Just under one in four wanted Leeds United loanee Jack Harrison to get a third season with the club while Ashley Young and Michael Keane, two players who were among the club’s best performers under Sean Dyche earlier in the season, received even less support.
One big winner in the poll was Orel Mangala, whose season ended with ligament damage suffered at Brighton and Hove Albion in January. He was signed on loan from Lyon and there is no option to make it a permanent move. But 73.2% of the Blues who responded to the poll were impressed enough with what they saw of him to hope Everton can bring him back.
Neal Maupay was not included as his loan deal contains an obligation for Marseille to make the move permanent in the summer, while Mason Holgate – on loan at West Bromwich Albion – has spoken of his desire to find a new home in the summer.
Everton reduce capacity of new stadium before it opens in official announcement
Everton have announced that they have reduced the capacity of their new stadium before it has opened.
The Toffees have moved out of Goodison Park and will move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Everton have made a late change to their new stadium
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Everton have made a late change to their new stadiumCredit: Getty
Their new state-of-the-art ground in Bramley-Moore Dock was initially revealed to have a capacity of 52,888 seats.
However, that has now changed, less than two months before the stadium officially opens on August 23.
Everton confirmed that the capacity will instead be 52,769 for Premier League fixtures and sporting events.
Explaining the decrease, a club statement read: “The initial designated capacity of 52,888, proposed as part of the final design created five years ago, has been reduced slightly following a thorough post-construction audit and review of the seating configuration across the stadium in readiness for the new season.
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“Factors such as segregation lines between the home and away section and the compliance and provision for media facilities and camera positions have played a part in the original maximum capacity being reduced by 0.2 per cent (119 seats).
“No seats purchased as Season Tickets have been affected by this slight reduction in capacity.”
The reduction in seats still means Everton will have the sixth biggest stadium in the Premier League though, sitting above Newcastle’s St James’ Park (52,258) and below Manchester City’s Etihad (55,097).
The Toffees will play their first game in front of fans on August 9, welcoming Roma to the Hill Dickinson Stadium in a friendly.
But it won’t be the official opening despite having a capacity crowd in attendance, as it will be the club’s third and final test event.
Their first Premier League home game on August 23 against Brighton will be their first official fixture at the ground.
Everton’s first official game at the Hill Dickinson is on August 23
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Everton’s first official game at the Hill Dickinson is on August 23Credit: Everton FC
Aerial view of Bramley Moore Dock stadium at night.
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The capacity of their new ground will be decreased from inital plansCredit: Getty
Everton are embarking on a brand new journey after departing Goodison Park, which had been their home since 1892.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium will take over from the iconic ground, albeit after some fans questioned the name.
Naming rights were handed to the law firm, Hill Dickinson, after a long-term deal was agreed last month.
The Toffees’ change in capacity at their new stadium followed another announcement from the club over the weekend.
The club confirmed that an ‘iconic feature’ was almost complete.
A new path called ‘Everton Way’ is being build outside the Hill Dickinson Stadium, featuring 36,000 personalised granite stones from Everton fans across the world.
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The paved walkway will welcome supporters to the waterfront venue, with plans underway to create a map that shows the location of each fans’ stone and their messages.
Meanwhile, Everton will be hoping that their new home helps improve their success on the pitch having fought relegation for large parts of last season.
Manager David Moyes led a brilliant fight back and his side ended up finishing 13th, above Manchester United and Tottenham.
But Moyes is sure to want to use the Hill Dickinson Stadium to buoy an attempt to rise back up to the top half of the Premier League.
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As mentioned, Everton’s first home game of the 2025/26 top-flight season is against Brighton on August 23.
That comes after their opening fixture of the campaign, which is a tough trip to newly-promoted Leeds United.
