Despite suffering a crushing 2-1 late derby defeat against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, Everton are still in the race for some form of European competition next season.
However, the Toffees’ weekend results at the bottom of the Premier League also meant they are mathematically safe from relegation. This wouldn’t usually be a factor for a team sitting in tenth place in the table at the late stage of the campaign.
This is a pertinent point for Everton because the Toffees have an obligation to sign loan star Merlin Rohl on a permanent deal from Freiburg, a deal reportedly worth around £18m unless they are relegated.
Rohl’s spell has been underwhelming
It would be difficult to say that Merlin Rohl’s loan spell on Merseyside has been a success. In fact, it has been largely underwhelming. Injuries have also played a role in his lacklustre spell with the Toffees.
Rohl has been restricted to just 13 appearances in all competitions this season for David Moyes’ team, with only three of those starts. Rohl’s most impressive display of the season came in a 1-0 win at high-flying Aston Villa. However, for unknown reasons, the German has struggled for first-team football since the victory.
Everton are looking to strengthen elsewhere
In an ideal world, Rohl’s deal wouldn’t be made permanent, as he hasn’t done enough to prove his worth during his limited spell at the club. This summer will be a big one for Everton, whether or not they qualify for Europe.
Last summer, the squad underwent an overhaul. This summer, the men from Merseyside are expected to once again make big changes to what is already a relatively small squad.
Reports from the club suggest that the recruitment team will focus on bringing in full-backs, as the Toffees are short on numbers on both flanks.
There is also a suggestion that they are hoping to bring in another winger, while still looking to re-sign loan star Jack Grealish from Manchester City. Signing Rohl on a permanent deal will affect the club’s budget, which could be a bad start to the transfer window for the ambitious Merseyside club.