Everton are preparing to wave goodbye to a number of things over the coming months.
Following the Friedkins’ takeover of Everton back in December, big changes are being approved ahead of the summer.
These are changes which are expected to drag the club out of their now-expected relegation battles as the Americans target a brighter future.
David Moyes is holding Everton contract talks at Finch Farm with just two games remaining in the 2024/25 campaign.
Decisions are going to have to be made sooner rather than later as the out-of-contract players will be looking to put plans in place for their futures.
Abdoulaye Doucoure is one Everton player wanting to stay but there is yet to be any decision made on the midfielder.
However, it does seem as if Moyes has now decided one player will be departing at the end of the term.
Joao Virginia confirms his Everton exit
It is believed Joao Virginia has been told he can leave Everton at the end of the season in search of more regular football.
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Virginia has not played a single minute with England’s number one between the sticks at Goodison Park.
And on Thursday, it appeared the Portuguese goalkeeper all but confirmed his exit with a telling Instagram post.
Sharing an image of himself, Asmir Begovic and Jordan Pickford during an Everton training session, his caption spoke volumes.
‘The GK Union, it’s been a pleasure,’ he said.
View this post on Instagram
Although nothing official has come from the club just yet, the final part of the caption would appear to be the goalkeeper confirming his imminent exit at the end of his deal.
Virginia says Sporting CP and Benfica are both interested with a potential homecoming on the cards for the Portuguese goalkeeper.
His time at Everton has been spent as the backup, but it was definitely just a case of being unlucky having such a top-quality goalkeeper in front of him in the pecking order.
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Everton will need to sign a new goalkeeper
Keeping Virginia would have been ideal as he has shown he is a quality number two, but he needs regular football.
Everton are keen to address four main positions this summer and goalkeeper was not one of them listed.
Allowing Virginia to depart is creating more work for the new-look recruitment model, but the player is 25-years-old and looking to progress his career as a number one.
Angus Kinnear said Everton are set for an ‘unprecedented’ summer and this is certainly going to be the case with the number of players set to leave the club.
What will be interesting to see is what calibre of goalkeeper would be willing to join and sit behind Pickford.
