Everton transfer budget update emerges after £70m sales made as big Demarai Gray decision looms
The transfer budget is still tight at Everton this summer despite bringing in nearly £70million in fees from sales since the turn of the year, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Anthony Gordon’s £45m exit to Newcastle in January freed up funds at the time but resulted in zero signings during that window, while long-term loanee Moise Kean’s Juventus deal was made permanent for up to £25m four months ago.
And yet, with yet another attacking exit in the offing after Al Hilal joined the race for Demarai Gray, the Toffees are again faced with the prospect of having to sell a forward in order to make signings once the Jamaica international returns from the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Chris Beesley writes in the Liverpool Echo: “When Gray does return from his summer in the States though, he and Everton could have a big decision to make over whether he makes another big switch.
“Despite having already raked in almost £70million so far this year from the sales of Anthony Gordon and Moise Kean, the ECHO understands that funds remain tight at Goodison Park which presents manager Sean Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell with a significant quandary.”
Been here before
It is times like these that Everton feels like a black hole for money as they sell one big-money player after another and still have to scrabble around for bargain deals and preferable payment structures.
Frank Lampard saw star man Richarlison go for £60m a year ago, and while signings were then made, not only did they leave the squad thin and lacking in firepower to the point where the relegation battle again went down to the wire, the spending appears to have contributed to a referral for an alleged profit and sustainability breach from the league.
Everton dispute that and will fight their case on 25 October when the case is heard, but with a transfer window to negotiate before then funds conspicuous by their absence.
Tom Davies, Yerry Mina, Andros Townsend, Asmir Begovic and Conor Coady have all departed already this summer, along with assorted youngsters, and Everton appear to have got themselves well positioned in transfer races for some reasonable targets, particularly from Leeds United.
But Gray’s exit is considered “likely” [Alan Myers, 25 June], and given Dyche needs to not only replace those who have left but crucially to also strengthen a side that has twice almost been relegated, that sale may not be enough.
Jordan Pickford and Amadou Onana are saleable assets, but losing either would be a big blow, so the club are going to have to get very creative in order to improve the squad.
Unfortunately in recent seasons the creativity has largely ended up having negative outcomes, as the club slipped down the league and signings didn’t pay off.
At last there is movement off the pitch with an overhaul of the board underway and investment from MSP Sports Capital helping secure the stadium build, but how long fans will have to wait until there is proper money to improve the situation on the pitch seems as long as ever.
In other Everton news, another snubbed Toffees contract offer has seen a player snapped up elsewhere and that club could now return to pick off a second target from Goodison.