View: Dybala speculation highlights Ancelotti impact at Everton

Everton have undeniably seen their transfer strategy change since Carlo Ancelotti was appointed manager in December 2019.

Before the Italian took up the Goodison Park hot-seat, the Blues possessed a transfer approach that was centred around pursuing realistic and attainable targets.

Even the more ambitious signings were attainable under the surface, with Andre Gomes (considered a flop) and Lucas Digne (wasn’t playing regularly) both out of favour at Barcelona, though Moise Kean’s signing was a genuine surprise.

However, with the ambitious signings of James Rodriguez and particularly Allan last summer, Everton’s transfer business now indicates that the club have a firm plan in place as they target breaching the top four.

Despite his incredible talent Rodriguez’s coup could be belittled as Everton signing an injury-prone player past his best. Allan however, while similarly aged, was in the prime of his career and playing regularly for a Champions League club before moving to Merseyside.

Ancelotti’s appointment provided Everton with an additional level of credibility and that has allowed them to compete for better players in the transfer market as a result – which goes some way to explaining the Paulo Dybala speculation.

Caught Offside exclusively revealed last week that Everton are interested in signing the Juventus superstar, who has previously been linked with Barcelona, while TransferMarketWeb have backed up that report.

It seems incredibly unlikely that Everton could hope to land someone like Dybala, with last season’s Serie A Player of the Year linked with many clubs with more resources than the Blues, not to mention those who can offer Champions League football to the 27-year old.

He was called “phenomenal” by Paul Robinson after the player was linked to neighbours Liverpool.

The mere mention of Everton’s name as an interested party goes to show just how influential Ancelotti has been in revolutionising the way in which the club operate in the transfer market.

The Toffees now believe that they really can compete with the best, and though that may not yet be true, with Ancelotti at the helm it doesn’t appear to be something completely outside the realm of possibility.

Ancelotti has already had a monumental impact on Everton, not just on the pitch but from a branding perspective, and should he continue to deliver results the club will only continue to grow in stature.