Micah Richards slams Everton spending as he reels off transfer failures
Everton have been heavily criticised for their transfer spending under Farhad Moshiri by BBC pundit Micah Richards.
The Toffees have paid £450.78million in transfer fees over the last five years [GiveMeSport], but have had little to show for it.
The club have finished no higher than seventh since Moshiri became majority owner and are currently languishing 14th in the Premier League table.
On BBC Radio 5 Live’s The Monday Night Club, Richards assessed the club’s recent transfer business.
“I just want to read out some of the players and the numbers,” he said.
“Iwobi, £35million. Bolasie was a little bit unlucky because he got a bad knee injury, but he was still £30million. Walcott they paid £20million for.
“Klaassen, £24million. Pickford has done well, £30 million he’s worth it. Keane has done ok in patches. It’s like he’ll have a really good six months and a couple of dodgy months.
“Tosun, £20million. Gomes was really unlucky when he broke his leg as well. Moise Kean who they’ve sent on loan to PSG and Juventus, they spent £27million on him.
“These players are good players but were they going to take Everton to the next level?”
When host Mark Chapman pointed out that before this summer Everton had the sixth biggest net spend in Europe in the last 10 transfer windows, Richards couldn’t contain his astonishment.
“I’m flabbergasted,” he said. “They’ve spent all that money and they’re arguably nowhere better off than they were.”
Harrowing
When those numbers are read out in the cold light of day, it is a harrowing picture for Everton supporters.
To have spent all that money while continually underperforming on the pitch is indicative of the lack of strategy the club has had under Moshiri.
Just hearing some of those names Richards read out sends a shiver down your spine. For example Davy Klaassen, who made just three league starts and was sold for half the price Everton bought him for.
The club’s lavish activity in previous windows meant their spending was restricted in the summer due to financial fair play regulations, which should help them take a more sensible approach.
Free agent Andros Townsend and £1.8million signing Demarai Gray have been two of their best players this season, proving how a prudent strategy can be successful going forward.
In other Everton news, the Toffees could look to sell one of their star players to raise transfer funds.
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