777 cannot repeat Moshiri mistakes at Everton as £120,000-a-week contract touted
Financially Everton are going through a difficult period, with Sean Dyche unable to spend too much to strengthen his squad during the summer transfer window.
There is hope that the financial future at Goodison Park could be set to get brighter, with American investment firm 777 Partners agreeing to a deal to acquire Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1 per cent stake in the Toffees, which is currently subject to approval from the Premier League [Sky Sports, 15 September].
Hopefully, the new ownership will allow Dyche and his recruitment team to have a bit more money to spend once it is completed, but 777 have to ensure that they don’t fall into the same traps that Moshiri has during his time in charge of the Toffees.
One player who is reportedly in discussion over a new contract with the Blues is Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with suggestions that the forward is hoping for an improved contract at Goodison potentially with a wage between £110,000 and £120,000 a week [Give Me Sport, 13 October].
When he is fit, there is no doubt that the England international is worth that sort of wage, as he has shown so far this season that he has an eye for goal that very few players in Dyche’s side can match. In his last four appearances in all competitions, the 26-year-old has found the net three times.
But in recent years, he has struggled to maintain his fitness and in the last two seasons combined he only managed 15 Premier League starts and during the 2022/23 campaign, he only found the back of the net twice in the league.
Before his injury struggles, Calvert-Lewin was one of the most in-form forwards in England, scoring 16 goals during the 2020/21 season and 13 prior to that, however, he hasn’t managed to make more than 17 appearances in nearly three years.
If 777 Partners complete their takeover, they cannot afford to give the former Barnsley striker a six-figure wage on the off chance that he can maintain his fitness, as should he pick up another injury they will be practically throwing money away.
Moshiri has made these same mistakes in the past and is still paying the price as Everton pay Andre Gomes a huge wage even though the Portuguese midfielder hasn’t played a single minute for them either this season or last.
That sort of reckless spending is what got the Toffees into this dire position in the first place and the struggles will only continue should they keep giving out big contracts to players who may not be worth that sort of wage.
If Calvert-Lewin can stay fit between now and the end of the season, then maybe it would be worth Everton matching his wage demands. With over 18 months left to run on his contract at Merseyside, there is no rush for the Toffees to ensure that he signs on the dotted line.
In other Everton news, Ashley Young has been included in the worst-signing Premier League XI this season