Michael Ball hits out at Everton’s current recruitment model
Michael Ball believes Everton need to be looking to take more risks when it comes to recruiting players in the future and refrain from paying big transfer fees.
The Toffees have been spent some huge fees on players in recent years with varying levels of success.
The former Everton player referred to Richarlison as a player who has paid the club back, but could’ve potentially been purchased earlier and for a smaller fee.
Writing in his Liverpool Echo column on Tuesday [31 May], Ball said: “We spent a lot of money on Richarlison to bring him to the football club and provide him with that stepping stone.
“He’s repaid us with his performances and goals but why can’t we sign the likes of Richarlison before he went to Watford?”
He added: “We need to be brave enough to make those decisions instead of having to fork out almost £50million as Watford were clever enough to take the gamble.”
Spot on
Ball is spot on in his assessment of what has gone wrong for Everton in recent years.
Even success stories at the Toffees, like Richarlison, have come at a price for the club.
Everton forked out nearly £50million for the Brazilian and it looks like it will be hard for them to make any significant profit on the 24-year-old.
Even if they sold him for £60million, they would’ve only made £10million on the striker.
They have never been innovative in their recruitment ideas and even when they are, their signings rarely come off due to some lacklustre scouting.
This summer should be viewed as a clean slate for the Toffees.
They have plenty of talent and value on their books that they can look to move on should they wish.
Under the stewardship of Frank Lampard and Kevin Thelwell taking up his role at the club, there is no reason why the Toffees cannot begin to look at bringing in younger players with the potential to develop at the club.
Copying the likes of Brentford and West Ham in unearthing talent that is value for money is the route the Toffees must follow now.
In other Everton news, Richard Dunne believes there is an “overload” of players not up to “the standard of Everton”.
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