Goodison News View: Everton paying for their own mistakes
Despite the fact that Everton have endured a rough season to date thus far, the club haven’t exploded into gear in the January transfer window.
They’ve brought in teenage defender Jarrad Branthwaite, but he’s certainly not a first team prospect at this moment in time.
There are plenty of holes in the Toffees’ squad, but they are being hampered by their own mistakes.
The club’s horrendous transfer business in recent years – spending big money on average players – has meant that they’re now hamstrung in January’s crazy market.
That’s certainly how reporter Vinny O’Connor sees things: “Everton at this point have been unable to offload Oumar Niasse and Cuco Martina, which arguably has a knock-on effect in terms of bringing players in because they haven’t reduced the wage bill,” he told Sky Sports News.
“However, given what director of football Marcel Brands said at the club’s general meeting about finances, unless they are able to make room in the squad, it might only be loan deals that they are able to bring in before the deadline.”
O’Connor has hit the nail on the head, here. The club have had such a bad year financially to the extent that they’re not going to be able to spend big money on anyone this month, pretty much.
The supporters won’t be happy with just loan deals, but they have to face the reality that actions have consequences.
The club has a wage bill of over £81million at this moment in time, a total higher than anyone’s outside of the big six, and only £8million less than Arsenal’s.
So the fact that they have – at the time of writing – been unable to shift either Niasse or Martina seems to indicate that their hands will be tied for the remainder of this month.
In other Everton news, the club are reportedly anticipating keen interest in one of their star players.