Huge worry: Lampard facing first Everton disaster as worrying Finch Farm news emerges - opinion

Everton could be set for their most difficult summer for a while, with the club currently navigating financial troubles, as well as battling to remain in the Premier League for next season.

However, even if they do maintain their top-flight status, they will also face a difficult battle to keep ahold of a number of their key players, including Richarlison, who reportedly wants a permanent transfer away from the club.

According to Goal, Manchester United could capitalise on the Brazilian striker’s situation at Goodison Park, and lure him to Old Trafford to bolster their attacking options, with Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo’s futures still unclear.

The Red Devils, who were rejected by the Everton star back in the January 2020 transfer window, will, however, be up against Spanish giants Real Madrid in the race for his signature.

Despite going through a difficult spell of form over the last eight games, in which he has averaged a 6.6 match rating according to SofaScore, the 24-year-old remains as important as ever to Frank Lampard’s plans at Finch Farm, and to lose him would be a major disaster.

After arriving at Everton as a 21-year-old back in July 2018, for £35m, he has made 142 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 47 goals and assisting 12 more.

This season, he has netted just four Premier League goals in 20 appearances, setting up only three as he averages a 6.82 match rating this season, not helped by his 11% goal conversion rate and three big chances missed so far.

Once hailed as an “amazing talent” by former Watford manager Marco Silva during the forward’s time at the Hertfordshire club, his career has gone from strength to strength ignoring this campaign, having already made