Although there is still three months before the transfer window reopens, there are already lots of rumours and speculation about the future of certain Premier League players.
The international break comes at a time whereby Premier League managers will have an idea of the squad they want for the season, which means that some players will be deemed a surplus to requirements.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman could be using these two weeks identifying exactly that.
The Toffees have made a great start to the new season under their new manager, winning four of their opening seven games and sitting fifth in the Premier League table.
However, Koeman may now know which players he doesn’t want for the whole season, so here are THREE players he might dispose of in January…
James McCarthy
Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.
Republic of Ireland international James McCarthy has hardly had a kick since Koeman took over in the summer.
From being one of Roberto Martinez’s stalwarts in the middle of the park, he is now nowhere near the first team at Goodison Park.
He started the first two Premier League games of the season for the Toffees but, since being hauled off in the second of those after just 38 minutes, he’s only appeared in the EFL Cup win over Yeovil Town at the end of August.
Although he has been named in the Ireland squad for their qualifiers, he will know that his position in Martin O’Neill’s side is under threat if he doesn’t play regular football.
That’s why he needs to get out of Everton if his first team chances don’t improve in the next few months.
Darron Gibson
Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.
Darron Gibson is another player who has fallen out of favour under Koeman and, as a result, it looks like his Everton career is coming to an end.
The Republic of Ireland international has struggled with injuries in recent years – he suffered serious ligament damage back in 2013 – but he’s still not getting near the first team as his injuries begin to subside.
The 28-year-old made just seven Premier League appearances last season, and has yet to make one this time around, albeit another injury has put pay to that in recent weeks.
An EFL Cup substitute cameo against Yeovil Town is not what Gibson will be wanting from this stage of his career, so maybe it’s time for Koeman to end his spell at Everton in January.
Arouna Kone
Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.
Arouna Kone was brought in by former manager Roberto Martinez after the two worked brilliantly together at Wigan Athletic, but it hasn’t quite happened for either of them on Merseyside.
The Spaniard Martinez is no longer in the Goodison Park hotseat, and it’s unlikely that Kone is going to be at the club for much longer either.
Since a £6 million move in 2013, the 32-year-old has started 23 Premier League games and come on as a substitute 22 times, scoring six goals in the process.
For a club like Everton, who are harbouring European ambitions this season, a six goal return is simply not good enough.
He hasn’t even made the bench in their last three league games – a sure sign that his Everton career is almost at an end.