Kevin Campbell has highlighted the importance of Everton's summer transfer window as the club face up to a "difficult" start to the 2022/23 Premier League season.
Frank Lampard's side welcome his former club Chelsea to Goodison Park for the opening game of the season on August 6th. Liverpool also make the trip across Stanley Park inside the opening seven matches of the term, while the Blues travel to face Arsenal in that period as well.
It's expected that Everton will have an important transfer window on their hands over the next few weeks and months, with multiple players having already confirmed their departures. Other clubs will be interested in the Blues' best players, while the manager and director of football Kevin Thelwell must have a plan in place to bring strong incoming recruits to bolster crucial areas of the squad with quality.
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And Blues hero Campbell believes that could be vital as his former side enter into the opening matches of the season. He believes that Everton have proven they can win those tough games, but he hopes that the squad will be "refurbished" by the time they enter that difficult beginning to the term.
The ex-striker told Sky Sports: "Last season they started well, they need to start this season well as well. I think you’re going to find in the first six games what type of season Everton are going to have.
"I’d like to think the recruitment is right and if the recruitment is right then the results should go right. Some good games, some winnable games in there as well obviously finishing with a Merseyside derby on September 3rd and if they’ve had a good run-up to that, it’s going to be a massive game.
"The computer likes to put things together doesn’t it? Frank Lampard and Everton got a great result against Chelsea in the last fixture they played, at the start of the season it’s a very tough game but one that Everton can win.
"It’s going to be difficult but I think we’re going to see some comings and goings at Everton because they need to revamp the squad, it needs to be refurbished and there needs to be some hope and I think Frank Lampard will bring that."
Rounding out their opening seven matches of the season are trips to face Aston Villa, Brentford and Leeds United - while newly-promoted Nottingham Forest also make the visit to Goodison.