Frank Lampard says it's ‘vital’ Everton get transfer signings right

Frank Lampard admits it is "vital" Everton get their recruitment right this summer if they are to avoid another season of struggle in the Premier League.

The Toffees manager is on the lookout for a new striker after last season's top scorer Richarlison left the club last week to join Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a deal that could be worth up to £60 million ($71.6m).

However, the Brazil international only registered 10 goals last term as Everton flirted with relegation for the majority of the campaign before sealing survival with a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace in their penultimate match.

With first-choice centre-forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin hampered by injuries, Everton's next-highest scorer in 2021/22 was Andros Townsend with just three league goals.

The departures of Fabian Delph, Cenk Tosun, Jonjoe Kenny and Gylfi Sigurdsson after the expiration of their contracts leave a number of places available, but Everton’s finances, having posted cumulative losses of more than £370m over the past three years, means a tightening of the Goodison Park purse strings.

Owner Farhad Moshiri, who is in discussions to sell the club, has spent more than £500m on players during his six-year tenure, but precious few have turned out to be a success or provided anything close to value for money.

Lampard has been working closely with new director of football Kevin Thelwell to identify transfer targets and said Everton face a "big challenge" to get the right players to steer the club on an upwards trajectory.

Everton appointed Thelwell in February, a month after Lampard arrived, so this will be their first proper transfer window at the club.

Everton's Brazilian striker Richarlison celebrates after scoring his team's second goal