Lampard can finally axe “embarrassing” £100k-p/w dud if Everton sign “fabulous” 28 y/o – opinion

Everton narrowly avoided relegation with a stunning 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace last week, which ensured the club didn’t have to live through a nerve-shredding final day of drama.

A 5-1 defeat to Arsenal, although disappointing, seemed irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Frank Lampard has a major job on his hands this summer, and that’s if he is still in charge over the next few weeks.

Whatever happens, the squad needs a major overhaul, with too many players coasting through matches this season and contributing very little despite their talents and bulging wage slips.

One such player is Alex Iwobi, the winger who has flattered to deceive this season, averaging a score of just 6.58 on WhoScored, which ranks him 15th out of the whole Everton squad.

The 25-year-old – dubbed “embarrassing” by David Prentice – has only contributed two goals and two assists all campaign and surely his £100k-per-week wage could go on someone who will contribute more?

With Everton being linked with a few players recently, the interest in Derby winger Tom Lawrence should be taken further and would allow the manager to axe Iwobi.

Lawrence has been superb this season as Derby were eventually relegated, despite putting up a decent fight. His tally of 11 goals and five assists prove how much of an attacking threat he is from a wide position.

The 28-year-old is a much greater danger than Iwobi, he has registered almost five times as many shots this season (101 to 24) and puts in over double the number of crosses (81 to 30) showing how poor the Everton man has been this season.

Lawrence will surely be on the move this summer, he is far too good a talent to be plying his trade in League One and Lampard could potentially make a shrewd move.