Everton ‘Gut Punch’ as two transfers sealed elsewhere
Joe Thomas has sent a stark warning to Everton as two former academy graduates complete transfers this month.
Isaac Price, who believes Frank Lampard’s dismissal ended his stay at Goodison Park, returned to England via Standard Liege to embark on a Premier League promotion charge with West Brom.
Tom Cannon, another ex-Blues graduate and linked with a return to Merseyside [Sami Mokbel], completed a move to Sheffield United from Leicester City.
However, with the Toffees yet to bring in a new face for David Moyes, Thomas reflected on the moves away from Goodison Park in his column for the Liverpool Echo (25 January) and urged The Friedkin Group to learn from Farhad Moshiri’s mistakes.
He wrote: “When Price departed for Standard Liege at the start of the summer it was a shame but not a surprise, with there being clear friction between his hopes for first-team football and what he was likely to get at Everton under Dyche.
“Cannon’s sale to Leicester City on the final day of the window felt like a gut punch though. This was a player too good for the Under-21s, who had shown at Preston North End in previous months that he was a good Championship striker and, in a squad that struggled for goals, having him on the periphery felt worthwhile.
“Every supporter wants their club to be the one that offers a pathway from the academy into the first team. Everton, in a financial mess the extent of which was still unknown, and in Dyche being led by a pragmatist with no choice but to concentrate on the present, were not that club.”
Everton must focus on developing academy talent
Although Cannon’s move to Sheffield United will net Everton a timely cash influx via the 25 per cent sell-on clause, his development will be watched closely at Goodison Park.
The same can be said for Price – with the pair preparing for a promotion fight in the Championship, their success would reflect poorly on the Toffees.
Across Stanley Park, Merseyside rivals Liverpool have graduates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones playing regularly in the first team.
Of course, supporters can look as far back as the early 2000s for an academy success story in Wayne Rooney, but barring Anthony Gordon, the Blues have a torrid track record with academy talent in recent years.
The Friedkin Group saved Everton from Moshiri’s clutches, and although the American consortium promises to bring their riches to Merseyside, the academy cannot be forgotten.
However, there is a slimmer of hope with youngster Harrison Armstrong impressing when given his opportunity with the first team, albeit chances are very few and far between.
Moyes must find a way to offer the academy graduates a clear first-team path without sacrificing ground in the Premier League relegation battle – a difficult dilemma indeed.
In other Everton news, Alan Myers shares what he’s heard on Blues-linked forward Christos Tzolis.
For more Everton news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.