Everton could release as many as 10 under-23 players this summer as Kevin Thelwell weighs up several contract decisions.
David Unsworth left the club in April and Everton - under new director of football Thelwell - are currently advertising for two separate positions of u-23 manager and academy director after the 48-year-old performed both roles before his departure.
Everton have tied down Lewis Warrington, Zan-Luk Leban and Sebastien Quirk to new contracts since the end of the campaign but several of their team-mates have entered the final month of their deals.
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Goalkeeper Jack Barrett penned a one-year extension last summer but remained a deputy for much of the season. He has been with the club since the age of nine but could leave after Leban was handed fresh terms.
Joe Anderson, a centre-back, is out of contract and looks likely to exit after turning 21. Sebastien Kristensen, signed from Lyngby BK in his native Denmark in 2019, is also into the final month of his terms. He made two Premier League 2 appearances last term.
Liverpool-born defender Harry Hagan, 18, is also out of contract but could be given a new deal after making his u-23 debut last season.
In midfield, Einar Iversen could leave. The Norwegian sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in March 2021 which ruled him out for the entirety of the previous campaign.
Everton have decisions to make on Mackenzie Hunt - who made 10 u-23 appearances last season - and Sean McAllister. The Northern Irish youth international played 13 times last term.
Liam Higgins entered a third year of scholarship and the club will have the option to offer the Welshman professional terms. Rhys Hughes is expected to leave, though, with Tranmere Rovers expressing early interest.
Everton fielded loan enquiries from the Football League for the Welsh youth international in January but he is set to depart as a free agent.
Rafa Garcia is the only forward in the u-23s who is out of contract this summer after Lewis Dobbin agreed new terms until 2025 in January after making his Premier League debut under Rafa Benitez. Garcia made eight appearances last season and scored two goals.
Thelwell is likely to make contract decisions with input from coach John Ebbrell and academy manager Joel Waldron but there remains a highly-rated core group at u-23 level.
Warrington impressed many during his loan spell at Tranmere Rovers during the second-half of last season while Reece Welch and Isaac Price have caught the eye of both Carlo Ancelotti and Frank Lampard.
Price made his Premier League debut on the final day of the campaign at Arsenal.
Lewis Dobbin and Tyler Onyango have also played Premier League football and will hope to spend pre-season with the first-team alongside Price and Welch in a bid to catch the eye of Lampard.
Elijah Campbell, 17, is another highly-rated centre-back who is set to play an important role for the u-23s next term.
Goalkeepers Harry Tyrer and Billy Crellin - the latter signed from Fleetwood Town on transfer deadline day in January 2022 - have also made an impression at Finch Farm.
Nathan Broadhead will return from a loan spell at Sunderland where he scored 13 goals and helped win promotion back to the Championship.
Everton will make a decision on his future alongside Lewis Gibson, who spent an injury-hit season at Sheffield Wednesday.
Former director of football Marcel Brands was a regular observer at u-23 matches and Thelwell has followed suit. He will expect several under-18s to make the step up over the summer.
Full-back Roman Dixon, 17, has caught the eye and has Premier League 2 experience under Unsworth. He is an England youth international with admirers for his pace and athleticism.
Shae Cahill, son of Everton favourite Tim, has stepped into the u-18s and supporters would be enthused to see the midfielder follow in the footsteps of his father.
Jenson Metcalfe and Imam Jagne, who was signed from native Swedish club BK Hacken in October 2020, have u-23 experience and will want to cement a regular place in the squad next term.
Francis Okoronkwo is perhaps the most exciting talent in the current youth ranks. The striker was signed from Sunderland in September 2021 - the final transfer of the Brands era at Everton - and impressed in the FA Youth Cup last season.
He is comfortable operating in all positions across the frontline and has the power and physicality to make the step into the u-23s next term despite being just 17.
