The Friedkin Group must be ashamed by latest En-Nesyri developments after Everton failure
The Friedkin Group have let Everton fans down by not signing Youssef En-Nesyri.
Dan Friedkin didn’t have a solid plan for the winter transfer window, with Tyrique George coming in as Everton’s only new signing.
It looked likely that Everton would sign En-Nesyri, who was at Fenerbahce at the time, to bolster their striker options.
However, there was a breakdown in negotiations between both clubs, with the Moroccan striker preferring to sign for either Juventus or Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad.
The 28-year-old eventually chose to move to the Middle East, and he has been fantastic since making his debut on 7 February.
Youssef En-Nesyri has been on fire for Al Ittihad
Ultimately, En-Nesyri wanted a lucrative contract, and perhaps the Toffees weren’t ready to break their wage structure for a player who hadn’t proven himself in the Premier League.
However, he has been excellent for Al Ittihad, scoring twice in his first three games.
En-Nesyri found the back of the net in a 7-0 win against Al-Gharafa on 10 February, before scoring again in a 2-1 victory over Al-Fayha three days later.
It is hardly a shock for a number nine who has a strong track record of scoring important goals across his career.
- En-Nesyri made 193 appearances for Sevilla between 2020 and 2024
- He scored 73 times for the Spanish side
- En-Nesyri then went on to score 28 goals in 79 appearances for Fenerbahce
Everton’s strikers have scored a combined total of eight goals in the Premier League this season, and it’s no wonder that David Moyes wanted Thierno Barry to have some worthy competition up front.
Beto was linked with leaving the Toffees, and although he will see out the rest of the season, he won’t challenge the French striker’s place in the team.
Missing out on En-Nesyri was a huge blow, not just because he’s fit and firing in Saudi Arabia, but because it leaves the number nine position unaddressed.
The Friedkin Group didn’t support Moyes in the winter transfer window at all, and it could come back to haunt them in the second half of the campaign.
One of the big concerns for Everton is their struggling form at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and that could prove costly in their hunt for European football.
Missing out on En-Nesyri could cost Everton European football
Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth proved that they don’t have a striker who is consistent.
Barry, Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are Everton’s top scorers in the Premier League with five goals each, but they need more output from their number nine in particular.
The Toffees have the 14th-best attack in the league, which shows how big their problems are in the final third.
En-Nesyri would have slotted straight into the starting lineup, and perhaps splashing the cash on him would have had huge benefits in the long term.
Moyes will have to work with what he’s got, but if the Toffees fail to qualify for European football from their current position, then The Friedkin Group will have to accept the majority of the blame.
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