Kevin Thelwell explains Everton transfer stance after winter window
Everton have certainly had a season of change with The Friedkin Group completing their takeover of the club and David Moyes replacing Sean Dyche as manager.
After the new owners took over at Goodison Park in December, they made the decision to bring Moyes back to the club in the hope of securing Premier League survival this term.
Things are looking up under Moyes and he has his side sitting nine points above the relegation zone but with plenty of work to do before the end of the campaign.
Kevin Thelwell explains Everton transfer stance
Although the new boss probably would have liked to have brought in a number of new faces to Goodison in the winter transfer window, there was only one new addition through the door before the 3 February deadline.
Carlos Alcaraz made his way to Merseyside in the hope of bolstering the Toffees midfield but there is also the feeling that the boss will still need more firepower at the top end of the pitch after failing to recruit a striker.
However, Director of Football Kevin Thelwell has defended the lack of transfer movement in the window and explained their stance moving forward.
He told Everton’s official website (10 February): “I feel we’re in really good shape and that gives us a real strong opportunity to attack the market and start to develop a team that’s capable of getting back to winning trophies, playing in Europe and be fitting of that world-class stadium we are going to be moving in to.
“What I was really keen to make sure we did, or didn’t do in this window, is put all that work in jeopardy by us doing something daft in the market that meant we spent more than what we should and then we had less to spend in the summer.
“So again, I’m sort of back to a spot where I say it’s a difficult market but don’t do daft things in that market that have an impact on the great work that we’ve done or the great work we want to do moving forwards.”
Everton looking ahead to brighter times
You can certainly understand why some supporters may have hoped for some more transfer movement at Goodison during the winter transfer window, especially after the arrival of the owners in Merseyside which will put the team in a better financial position.
However, as Thelwell points out, things don’t change overnight and given how much the Toffees have suffered as a result of PSR regulations throughout the last few seasons, the last thing they wanted to do was put themselves in a tough position straightaway.
Furthermore, although there is still plenty of work for the new manager to do to get the Toffees competing back where they belong, things certainly look a lot better throughout the squad and it is looking highly likely that the Blues will be able to comfortably retain their status in the top flight.
Nevertheless, if survival is secured, there is no doubt that expectations will be higher in the summer transfer window as Everton prepare to move to Bramley-Moore Dock and kickstart a new era at the club.
Therefore, TFG and director of football Thelwell – if he is still in place – will have to back up their words and ensure the support is there to improve the Blues’ squad ahead of the new to the new stadium.