Christian Norgaard and four other players Everton could sign on free transfers this summer

Christian Norgaard and four other players Everton could sign on free transfers this summer

A look at the players Everton could sign for free this summer as contracts get set to expire

Brentford captain Christian Norgaard has been linked with a move to Everton (Image: CameraSport via Getty Images )

He won't admit to it yet. But David Moyes has all but guided Everton to Premier League safety.

A run of 17 points from nine, unbeaten games means the Blues currently sit the same amount of points clear of the relegation places.

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While their remaining fixtures are daunting, particularly in April, it is highly unlikely that any of the bottom three will catch Everton now.

It means Moyes, his coaching staff and the new-look, off-the-pitch team being put together by The Friedkin Group can start to look toward the summer.

It's going to be a big one. There is, of course, the move to the club's magnificent new stadium.

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But on the pitch, there is likely to be huge change, too. Fifteen first-team players, including those on loan, are set to be out of contract at the end of the campaign.

Significant investment is going to be needed in the squad. The Blues will helped by the fact that the club is moving out of the Profit and Sustainability Rules shadows.

But Everton will only be able to spend so much, so it is likely that Moyes will have to utilise the free transfer market. And, fortunately, a number of good players look set to be on that market given their contracts at their current clubs are set to expire.

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And, here, we take a look at some...

Christian No

James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are the only centre-midfielders currently contracted to Everton beyond the end of the season. And while it would not be a surprise if Idrissa Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucoure are offered new deals, the middle of the park is an area Moyes will surely be keen to strengthen.

To that end he has been linked with Brentford's captain, Christian No rgaard. While 31 years of age, the Denmark international remains a top Premier League performer.

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But Bees boss Thomas Frank recently admitted he expects his skipper, who was controversially sent off at Goodison Park earlier this season, to remain in West London.

Angel Gomes

While Norgaard would not be a signing that would particularly set pulses racing, the arrival of Angel Gomes on a free transfer certainly would.

The 24-year-old has developed into an England international at Lille after leaving Manchester United and he will have a flood of offers this summer if he departs on a free.

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That could be an issue for the Blues, with Barcelona said to be interested in Gomes, while West Ham United's £100,000-per-week pay-packet bid is said to be too low for Gomes.

Vladimir Coufal

While Jack O'Brien has performed admirably in the role, it feels high time that Everton found a successor to captain Seamus Coleman.

Ashley Young, three years Coleman's senior at 39, is out of contract in the summer while Nathan Patterson, for all his potential, has not yet looked like making the right-back position his own, although he has been unfortunate with injuries.

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So one right-back who is being linked with the Blues is West Ham's Vladimir Coufal, who worked with Moyes during his time at the London Stadium.

Like Norgaard, age is not on his side, but the 32-year-old Czech Republic international can still do a good job, albeit it is one he has not been able to do as regularly this season for the Hammers given the form of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

If not Coufal, there are other right-backs who are set to be free transfers on the market, including Southampton's Kyle Walker-Peters, Fulham's Kenny Tete and Brighton & Hove Albion's Tariq Lamptey.

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Callum Wilson

Well, at least it would stop him scoring against the Blues?

Callum Wilson has scored eight goals in 10 Premier League outings against Everton and you would not bet against him adding to that tally on the final day of the season, on what looks set to be his last appearance for Newcastle United.

There are red flags, of course, mainly his injury record and the fact that he is 33. But when fit, the England international remains a class act, and with Moyes likely having to revamp his frontline, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin seemingly set to depart on a free, Wilson could tick an experienced box.

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The same could be said of Raul Jimenez of Fulham.

Jonathan David

But if the Friedkins really wanted the football world sit up and take notice, how about a free transfer move for Gomes' club-mate Jonathan David?

The 25-year-old has enjoyed another prolific season at Lille, for whom he has now scored 107 goals in 224 appearances.

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It appears David's next stop will be a bigger, Champions League club, with the likes of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Arsenal all credited with interest. Newcastle, the newly crowned Carabao Cup winners after beating Liverpool at Wembley last weekend, are also keen.

But would the Canada international fancy being the frontman of the first Blues team at Bramley-Moore Dock? We can but dream.

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