Everton transfer news: Sky Sports pundit in ‘crazy’ reaction as Moussa Dembele signing left hanging amid MSP investment delay
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…
Everton may be waiting to go after free agent striker target Moussa Dembele until the long-awaited investment is announced, according to Kevin Campbell.
The former Lyon striker has been available since he left the Ligue 1 club at the expiry of his contract, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Toffees were “informed on conditions of the deal” back on 12 June.
Over a month later and, after missing out on Rodrigo from Leeds United, Everton still haven’t brought in a striker while Dembele is now being targeted for a move to Saudi Arabia [Romano, 13 July], and Campbell worries that the delayed confirmation of the MSP Sports Capital deal might behind the apparent lack of action.
The Sky Sports pundit and former Toffees captain Campbell exclusively told Goodison News: “That’s how Everton have to work at the moment.
“I’m sure Sean Dyche wants to move for whoever he wants to move for, but the people upstairs obviously are boxing clever.
“Maybe they’re not over-committing until the investment comes in.
“Now, how long’s a piece of string for when that’s coming in?
“It’s a crazy way to run a football club, but this is Everton Football Club we’re talking about, and it’s been all over the place for a little while.”
Everton are apparently saving up what budget they can put together in order to sign a striker, with the free agent capture of 38-year-old Ashley Young the order of the day in other positions.
But despite long-standing interest in Dembele it appears that rival clubs are pushing ahead on signing him, and unless there is extensive activity going on in the background the chances that he arrives at Goodison Park this summer may be diminishing.
As a centre-forward who does not require a transfer fee he would appear to be the sort of priority option that should be wrapped up early, and if he goes the way of Rodrigo in agreeing a deal elsewhere it will increase fears that this window might follow the January one.
The MSP Sports Capital cash is primarily for the stadium development, and may not be announced until the end of the summer, so there is no time to lose in terms of pushing to sign a goalscorer and the Dembele option looks like a relatively open goal, so the absence of concrete developments at this point is a concern.
In other Everton news, action is being put into a far more expensive deal but a club appears to want a record fee to sell.