Everton: Transfer embargo part of ‘most likely’ FFP punishment outcome as difference to Manchester City case highlighted
A transfer embargo and heavy fines are seen as the “most likely scenario” for Everton if found in breach of spending rules, a source has told The i.
That would avoid the most serious possibility of points deductions, although any repercussions are thought unlikely to affect the current season, with the club currently in a relegation battle once more.
How likely the Toffees are to be in hot water should become clear when their most recent accounts – to June 2022 – which sparked the Premier League to take action against them, are made public on Friday (31 March), although the timeframe is not expected to be anywhere near as long as the huge raft of charges against Manchester City.
The i report states: “One source i spoke to felt that the most likely scenario if they were found to have breached the Premier League rules is that there would be some form of cost controls placed on the club, such as an enforced transfer embargo, as well as heavy fines.
“Given the time that will be granted to the club to put together a defence of the case it is unlikely that any punishment will have an impact on this season, although given that it is a single breach – rather than the hundreds being dealt with in the Manchester City case – the commission should be convened within months rather than years.”
Circus
The Toffees were supposed to already be working closely with the Premier League and costs were being controlled, hence why this squad has struggled through two relegation battles.
Everton only bought Demarai Gray for £2million prior to last season, and then funded the signings of Vitalii Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson in January by selling Lucas Digne to Aston Villa.
Although some fans might wonder what the thought processes are within the boardroom at Goodison Park, they didn’t suddenly become frugal for fun, and nor did they let go of star man Richarlison in a hurry to Tottenham for £60million before the end of the accounting period either.
That was specifically rushed through in that time to satisfy the profit and sustainability considerations, despite the fact that the Brazilian played a huge part in keeping the club in the Premier League, and has still never been properly replaced.
So if Rafael Benitez, Frank Lampard, and now Sean Dyche have all now worked under reduced and staggered spending in the transfer market while attacking assets have been sold off the fans could be excused for wondering what the point was, even if transfers aren’t the only relevant consideration.
Many of them, and perhaps Dyche privately, will scoff at the idea of a transfer embargo when the club managed to impose one on itself in the January window when precisely zero new recruits arrived despite the squad crying out for attacking reinforcements.
While the irony of heavy fines being imposed on a club who are in trouble for unsustainable losses is pretty much the cherry on the cake of the latest farce to engulf Everton.