‘Dysfunction’ at Everton as Hugo Ekitike transfer worked on without ‘knowledge or backing’ of whole club
Work at Everton to sign Hugo Ekitike is “taking place without the knowledge, or backing, of everyone” at the club, according to Paul Joyce.
The Times journalist reported on the newspaper’s website on 10 August that it appeared to be a sign of the “continuing dysfunction” at the club that not everyone was pulling in the same direction with regards to a move for the PSG striker.
Fabrizio Romano reported via Twitter a day earlier that the club had “concrete interest” in the young Frenchman and later followed up that the Ligue 1 giants wanted a “total package” worth €35million [£30m].
Sky Sports’ Alan Myers reported via Twitter (10 August) that the Toffees had “100%” made an offer but he didn’t expect the move to be successful.
And according to Joyce the transfer policy at Goodison Park may not be entirely united.
Confused
If there is a divide at the club which is seeing different elements pulling in different directions it would hardly be conducive to getting crucial business done.
While Sean Dyche has finally seen a striker come through the doors in the form of Youssef Chermiti from Sporting the teenager is very much the exception that proves the rule as he is the first signing the club have spent money on in the manager’s time at Goodison Park, and just the third over all.
Since the former Burnley boss has already suggested that the 19-year-old Portuguese is likely one for the future, Chermiti would look like an exciting second option to bring in, with more experience despite only being 21 himself.
But given the French champions aren’t apparently ready to let him go cheaply it is clearly going to be a complicated deal to get done, and will likely only be possible on a very favourable payment structure.
The chances of success on that front are bound to be all the more difficult if some at Everton aren’t even aware of the situation and others are actively against it, if that is indeed the case.
There appears to be money available before the window shuts, although how much is unclear, but at this late stage Dyche looks like he needs at least a couple more deals done to be able to avoid another struggle this season.
It might explain some of the struggles in the market if there are factions behind the scenes, and to properly dismiss such suggestions that hierarchy would do well to get the required work done before 1 September.
In other Everton news, two other forwards are in the club’s sights after the deal to bring in Chermiti this summer.