Everton could look to move Gylfi Sigurdsson on in the summer, potentially paving the way for summer spending.
Marcel Brands has been running the rule over Carlo Ancelotti’s squad ahead of a busy summer period for the Toffees, with Express Sport claiming the Dutchman wants to reduce the amount of high earners at the club.
Iceland international Sigurdsson could fall into that bracket, having struggled to impress for the Blues this season.
The Athletic report that Ancelotti intends on maintaining his 4-4-2 formation next season, and while Andre Gomes and JP Gbamin are expected to be in starting contention, Ancelotti will also want to bring in some players of his own.
That leaves Morgan Schneiderlin, Fabian Delph, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Tom Davies fighting for a place on the bench, with just two starting midfield spots available, and should Everton’s record financial losses impact their transfer budget, the higher earners could be sacrificed to raise funds.
Both Sigurdsson and Schneiderlin are currently earning £100,000-a-week on Merseyside (Spotrac), and with the 4-4-2 formation losing the conventional No.10 role that Sigurdsson has thrived in during previous regimes and at previous clubs, he could now see his opportunities dwindle.
On top of that, Sigurdsson’s personal influence has already waned this season, when compared to last season. After gameweek 27, the 30-year old has just one goal and two assists in 24 Premier League appearances, while at the same stage last season, Sigurdsson had played all 27 games, scoring nine goals and assisting three.
Marcel Brands confirmed in January that Everton may need to sign a right-sided winger in the summer, while the club’s deficiencies at centre-back are obvious for all to see. As such, Brands could be willing to swing the axe on the former Swansea playmaker, as Ancelotti looks to shape the squad through his own vision.
