Everton transfer news: Sky Sports pundit reacts to ‘such important money’ fee amid Ellis Simms exit to Coventry City
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell is satisfied with the money Everton received to sell Ellis Simms to Coventry City as he feels it was “about right”.
The club announced on Friday night (7 July) that the 22-year-old striker had completed his permanent move for an “undisclosed fee”, but Fabrizio Romano had reported the night before that it was a deal worth £8million.
With Everton badly needing more firepower to come the other way Sean Dyche has again seen his options weakened and for only moderate money, but according to Campbell the club had to ensure the deal got done and couldn’t risk scaring teams off.
The Sky Sports pundit exclusively told Goodison News he didn’t feel the fee was too low, saying: “No not really I think that’s about right.
“Considering he was on loan. He’d done okay on loan. Came back, he’s done okay, he’s a decent player.
“But the moment you start putting that price up and teams don’t want him then all of a sudden you’re stuck aren’t you?
“So for Everton it’s just a matter of doing the business, getting him moved, which I’m sure he wants because he wants to play, and getting such important money in.
“It may seem like not a big sum but Everton, unfortunately, can’t play the game how they want to.”
After seven goals in half a season with Sunderland last season and a first Premier League strike in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea late in the year there might have been hopes that a proven goalscorer might net Everton a greater windfall.
But if the Toffees are that desperate for money and haven’t got any time to lose as the transfer window ticks by without any signings made they didn’t have the luxury of haggling for a maximum fee, especially when he had just a year left on his contract.
That said, with as many as four sides in for Simms, and Farhad Moshiri supposedly convincing Bill Kenwright to stay at the club for his expertise in transfer negotiations, fans still might be feeling a bit short-changed to see another homegrown player leave for just seven figures.
In other Everton news, the club can reportedly now afford to match the asking price for a replacement forward and offer an “important” contract to his representatives.