Why Everton-Brighton comparison is 'far-fetched' after what club insiders have said
The Toffees endured an abysmal end to the summer transfer window, which ended with David Moyes having just one senior striker.
Since then, owners the Friedkin Group have announced their intentions to sell Everton if a suitable buyer can be found.
By contrast, Brighton continue to earn plaudits for their ability to sign talent, develop them, and then sell for substantial profits.
Indeed, the Seagulls are often cited as one of the best examples of successful player trading in England, and indeed across Europe.
But the Athletic journalist Paddy Boyland is not entirely convinced that Everton will follow suit after what he's been told.
Why will Everton not follow in Brighton's foot steps?
Boyland was speaking on the Blue Room podcast, and did not point to some successes Everton have had with player trading.
Iliman Ndiaye, Idrissa Gana Gueye, and Amadou Onana were all cited as examples of where Everton have had successes with player trading.
Podcast host Matt Jones had floated the idea of Everton trying to emulate what Brighton have done with player trading.
Jones spoke about how he had posed the debate on social media, and how he himself thinks that Everton should be looking more at how Brighton operate.
But Boyland thinks the idea of Everton seeing themselves as a club to develop talent and play elsewhere is one that would not sit well with sections of the fanbase.
He said: "I think the clubs are fundamentally different in just about every way.
"You have generations of Everton fans who have seen Everton win things, and be at the top of English football.
"So, the idea that Everton are going to do what Brighton effectively do, which is find these kind of uncut gems, polish them up if we want to continue the metaphor, and then sell them on to bigger and better things, I think the idea that would be accepted easily at Everton is probably far-fetched.
"I think that's the view inside the club when I've spoken to them about things like this before as well, they feel like they now need to find their own way, an Everton way."
Is it time for Everton to have a rethink?
It is a fair point that Boyland raises, and the idea that Everton should be a club to develop and sell wouldn't sit well with all fans.
But, the reality is that all clubs have to trade effectively.
Yes, the real big spenders have an advantage, and yes they will always pluck the best talent from their rivals.
But even they have to keep trading, so the idea that Everton should be against that is just wrong, isn't it?
And it's not necessarily about becoming some sort of feeder club to the big boys, either.
It's about finding a sustainable model and knowing the right time to sell a player, and then making the whole better because of the sum of the parts.