Paul Brown makes ‘enforced’ Everton January transfer prediction as ‘not impossible’ claim made
It is “not impossible” that Everton might have to sell players in the January transfer window, according to journalist Paul Brown.
The verdict comes given the “state” of the club’s finances, with manager Sean Dyche potentially forced into player sales.
The Toffees returned a loss for the fifth successive year with their £44.7million deficit reported for the 2020/21 season, taking the club’s cumulative losses to more than £430million over the period [The Independent, 31 March].
“I don’t think Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey’s performances against Burnley last weekend really changes much for Dyche because he trusts both of them to do a job when needed,” Brown told GIVEMESPORT (24 December).
“I don’t think he wants either of those players sold in January, so the fact they both came in, played very well, kept the winning run going and kept a clean sheet in a pretty tough game is really positive. But I don’t think it changes his mind in terms of what they want to do in January.
“Because of what’s going on behind the scenes at the club and the state of Everton’s finances, it’s not impossible that they may have to sell in next month’s window just to bring some money into the club. But, if they do that, I think it would be an enforced sale and not one that Sean Dyche particularly wants to do.”
Unwanted distraction
The financial issue is simply another distraction for Dyche, and one that he does not want or need at this moment in time.
The manager is already trying his best to deal with the recent 10-point deduction handed to the Toffees after they were found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
The punishment saw the Merseyside club drop from 14th place to 19th place in the table, but they have since clawed their way back to 16th with some very impressive results.
There is a real harmony and unity at Goodison Park, and the last thing that Dyche wants is to lose one or two of his key players.
The manager won’t even want to lose fringe players at the club given the busy schedule and the injuries and suspensions that come with it.
A few could, however, move on, but perhaps only if the powers that be at Everton also sanction one or two new arrivals.
In other Everton news, a Sky Sports journalist has shared a “lucky” verdict after an “extremely harsh” decision in the loss against Tottenham.