Everton transfer news as Sean Dyche admits he did not want to lose Alex Iwobi
Sean Dyche has admitted he didn’t want Everton to sell Alex Iwobi to Fulham after he completed his Goodison departure late on deadline day.
The Nigerian winger had been an ever-present for the Toffees last season as they narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League, but made the surprising switch to Craven Cottage late on deadline day for a fee of £22million.
Iwobi’s departure left Dyche with limited options for Everton’s 2-2 draw against Sheffield United on Saturday (2 September), with the Toffees’ manager naming two goalkeepers on his seven-player bench.
Discussing the state of his squad with TNT Sports (2 September), ahead of kick-off, he said: “We didn’t want Alex (Iwobi) to leave but you have to be good at the reality of the situation.
“It’s not ideal. We’re stretched. The business model of the club is changing.”
The only positive in terms of the team for the Toffees fans was the fact that Dwight McNeil was fit to make the bench at Bramble Lane in Iwobi’s absence.
Tough times
The situation at Goodison Park doesn’t seem to be getting any easier with each passing day, with Dyche seemingly incredibly frustrated with the loss of Iwobi so late in the transfer window after it has left his already light squad low on options.
There haven’t been many consistently good performers who have donned the blue Everton shirt in recent seasons, but Iwobi is probably one of the few who can be considered a genuinely impressive performer despite the Toffees’ struggles.
Financially it is a very difficult period for the Toffees and they are likely not in the position to be turning down £20m+ bids for a player who has shown no intention of signing a new deal as the Nigerian entered the final 12 months of his contract.
Hopefully, Everton’s first point and first goal of the season in the draw with Sheffield United will be the start of a greater period of positivity at Goodison Park and with the international break looming they’ll be able to field a full bench when they face Arsenal.
In other Everton news, the Toffees were hopeful of a late loan deal on transfer deadline day