From The Athletic
Explained: why Everton’s transfer window is moving so slowly
By Patrick Boyland 3h ago 5
June. Even though the 2019-20 Premier League campaign was still some way from reaching its conclusion, the silly season was already in full swing.
According to some reports, Everton were on the verge of sealing the £25 million signing of Southampton’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Fee and personal terms agreed, announcement imminent — if you believed the stories emanating from the south coast.
A couple of major problems, though.
While Everton had registered initial interest in Hojbjerg, sounding out his appetite for a move to Goodison, the Dane made it clear from the outset he had his heart set on a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
There was also clear daylight between Everton and Southampton in their valuations of a player who had just a year to run on a contract he had no intention of extending. Lingering hopes of securing Hojbjerg were extinguished when Tottenham finally entered the equation, agreeing to pay Southampton’s asking price.
March. Everton felt that they made decisive steps in their bid to sign top central defensive target Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille. He was, according to one suggestion, “effectively signed, sealed and delivered” before the full force of the pandemic struck Europe. But COVID-19 would prove to be a game-changer as far as Everton and Gabriel were concerned.
Unsure over Gabriel’s value in the new economic landscape, Everton and Lille found differences they were unable to overcome in establishing what they deemed a fair market value for the player.
There was also a feeling high up at Goodison that the early leaking of the news brought other clubs to the table, that their interest had been used to stoke up a bidding war.
Months later and the Brazilian defender is now on the verge of moving to Premier League rivals Arsenal. Everton, for many different reasons, have changed their approach. More on that later.
In many ways, the Hojbjerg and Gabriel sagas serve as perfect case studies for Everton’s window and the market as a whole.
Chelsea, free to invest funds saved during their transfer ban, remain an exception to the general rule in the Premier League, where business has been minimal. Across the board, those close to the seats of power in football speak of the current window as arguably the most difficult they have ever faced, with it particularly hard to determine what is a fair value for players.
It has been slower than Everton would have liked, and that has, in turn, led to an element of restlessness among a fanbase eager to see last season’s squad improved. However you choose to view pre-season performances, Blackpool’s early glut of three goals in just over 10 minutes only served to confirm the fears of some.
So why the lack of new signings?
Everton have their own unique challenges to face: losses of £112 million in their last set of accounts and a bloated squad and wage bill. They need to get rid of the deadwood, finding fees for players such as Yannick Bolasie and Muhamed Besic. Morgan Schneiderlin, Kieran Dowell, Leighton Baines, Luke Garbutt and Oumar Niasse are among those that have already departed. It is a key strand of their process this summer as Marcel Brands looks to reduce numbers to a more manageable size and strengthen the squad while adhering to FFP regulations.
It is proving a tough ask. “Most of the fringe players are on big wages and that makes them very difficult to shift in this climate,” a source told The Athletic. Nor has lady luck shone on Goodison. Cenk Tosun, another touted for sale in previous windows, sustained a serious injury shortly into a loan at Crystal Palace that contained a purchase option close to £20 million.
How they could do with that type of sale now.
Everton, however, remain intent on adding to their squad this summer. The Athletic understands they still hope (rather than expect), as per Ancelotti’s request, to have strengthened in time for the new season. There has been surprise internally at reports suggesting the Italian has become frustrated by lack of signings, but they know they need to back their manager sooner rather than later as the clock ticks down to the new season.
After walking away from the table over Gabriel and witnessing the emergence of Jarrad Branthwaite (the 18-year-old defender who has impressed everyone at the club since he arrived from Carlisle United), Brands and Ancelotti have switched their attention to securing midfield reinforcements.
Talks have been ongoing with Napoli and Watford for key targets Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure, but establishing a fair market value for players post-COVID-19 has again proven to be a challenge.
Doucoure’s preference is a move to Goodison and he is expected to leave this summer but Watford, for their part, value the Frenchman at between £25-30 million and are confident that they can get it in light of other interest.
It is a similar story with Allan, whom Napoli value at just over £30 million. It’s not unreasonable to suggest that Steve Walsh-era Everton would have just paid up. Some supporters would argue they should now. But even £3 million or £4 million saved haggling makes a difference when you’re skirting FFP red lines.
There is a feeling, as a result, that some (but maybe not all) of Everton’s deals will rumble on and that most clubs will still be doing business once the season begins.
Elsewhere, Branthwaite’s early success has increased the likelihood he will be a fourth option if a new central defender is not secured. It means Everton are likely to continue with the original plan for Lewis Gibson, which was to sanction another loan deal to either the Championship or the Bundesliga.
Gibson remains highly rated by the Everton hierarchy but there is a belief that he needs more games at a level higher than his spell in League One at Fleetwood Town last season to continue his development. The Athletic understands a host of teams have already registered an interest in signing the 20-year-old on loan, including Huddersfield Town and Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Everton will only move for a new right-back if one of their two existing options departs. Santiago Arias of Atletico Madrid, a player Brands bought for PSV, is on their list should Jonjoe Kenny leave. Arias is down the pecking order at Atletico and could be available on loan.
Ancelotti and Brands ideally want left-back cover for Lucas Digne after Baines’ departure but will continue to place a higher priority on signings in other areas. In the meantime, young left-back Niels Nkounkou, a summer signing from Marseille, will be afforded a chance to stake a claim during pre-season.
With under three weeks to go until the start of the new season, everyone associated with Everton will hope for positive progress soon.
As the window so far has shown, patience is required more than ever.
Explained: why Everton’s transfer window is moving so slowly
By Patrick Boyland 3h ago 5
June. Even though the 2019-20 Premier League campaign was still some way from reaching its conclusion, the silly season was already in full swing.
According to some reports, Everton were on the verge of sealing the £25 million signing of Southampton’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Fee and personal terms agreed, announcement imminent — if you believed the stories emanating from the south coast.
A couple of major problems, though.
While Everton had registered initial interest in Hojbjerg, sounding out his appetite for a move to Goodison, the Dane made it clear from the outset he had his heart set on a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
There was also clear daylight between Everton and Southampton in their valuations of a player who had just a year to run on a contract he had no intention of extending. Lingering hopes of securing Hojbjerg were extinguished when Tottenham finally entered the equation, agreeing to pay Southampton’s asking price.
March. Everton felt that they made decisive steps in their bid to sign top central defensive target Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille. He was, according to one suggestion, “effectively signed, sealed and delivered” before the full force of the pandemic struck Europe. But COVID-19 would prove to be a game-changer as far as Everton and Gabriel were concerned.
Unsure over Gabriel’s value in the new economic landscape, Everton and Lille found differences they were unable to overcome in establishing what they deemed a fair market value for the player.
There was also a feeling high up at Goodison that the early leaking of the news brought other clubs to the table, that their interest had been used to stoke up a bidding war.
Months later and the Brazilian defender is now on the verge of moving to Premier League rivals Arsenal. Everton, for many different reasons, have changed their approach. More on that later.
In many ways, the Hojbjerg and Gabriel sagas serve as perfect case studies for Everton’s window and the market as a whole.
Chelsea, free to invest funds saved during their transfer ban, remain an exception to the general rule in the Premier League, where business has been minimal. Across the board, those close to the seats of power in football speak of the current window as arguably the most difficult they have ever faced, with it particularly hard to determine what is a fair value for players.
It has been slower than Everton would have liked, and that has, in turn, led to an element of restlessness among a fanbase eager to see last season’s squad improved. However you choose to view pre-season performances, Blackpool’s early glut of three goals in just over 10 minutes only served to confirm the fears of some.
So why the lack of new signings?
Everton have their own unique challenges to face: losses of £112 million in their last set of accounts and a bloated squad and wage bill. They need to get rid of the deadwood, finding fees for players such as Yannick Bolasie and Muhamed Besic. Morgan Schneiderlin, Kieran Dowell, Leighton Baines, Luke Garbutt and Oumar Niasse are among those that have already departed. It is a key strand of their process this summer as Marcel Brands looks to reduce numbers to a more manageable size and strengthen the squad while adhering to FFP regulations.
It is proving a tough ask. “Most of the fringe players are on big wages and that makes them very difficult to shift in this climate,” a source told The Athletic. Nor has lady luck shone on Goodison. Cenk Tosun, another touted for sale in previous windows, sustained a serious injury shortly into a loan at Crystal Palace that contained a purchase option close to £20 million.
How they could do with that type of sale now.
Everton, however, remain intent on adding to their squad this summer. The Athletic understands they still hope (rather than expect), as per Ancelotti’s request, to have strengthened in time for the new season. There has been surprise internally at reports suggesting the Italian has become frustrated by lack of signings, but they know they need to back their manager sooner rather than later as the clock ticks down to the new season.
After walking away from the table over Gabriel and witnessing the emergence of Jarrad Branthwaite (the 18-year-old defender who has impressed everyone at the club since he arrived from Carlisle United), Brands and Ancelotti have switched their attention to securing midfield reinforcements.
Talks have been ongoing with Napoli and Watford for key targets Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure, but establishing a fair market value for players post-COVID-19 has again proven to be a challenge.
Doucoure’s preference is a move to Goodison and he is expected to leave this summer but Watford, for their part, value the Frenchman at between £25-30 million and are confident that they can get it in light of other interest.
It is a similar story with Allan, whom Napoli value at just over £30 million. It’s not unreasonable to suggest that Steve Walsh-era Everton would have just paid up. Some supporters would argue they should now. But even £3 million or £4 million saved haggling makes a difference when you’re skirting FFP red lines.
There is a feeling, as a result, that some (but maybe not all) of Everton’s deals will rumble on and that most clubs will still be doing business once the season begins.
Elsewhere, Branthwaite’s early success has increased the likelihood he will be a fourth option if a new central defender is not secured. It means Everton are likely to continue with the original plan for Lewis Gibson, which was to sanction another loan deal to either the Championship or the Bundesliga.
Gibson remains highly rated by the Everton hierarchy but there is a belief that he needs more games at a level higher than his spell in League One at Fleetwood Town last season to continue his development. The Athletic understands a host of teams have already registered an interest in signing the 20-year-old on loan, including Huddersfield Town and Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Everton will only move for a new right-back if one of their two existing options departs. Santiago Arias of Atletico Madrid, a player Brands bought for PSV, is on their list should Jonjoe Kenny leave. Arias is down the pecking order at Atletico and could be available on loan.
Ancelotti and Brands ideally want left-back cover for Lucas Digne after Baines’ departure but will continue to place a higher priority on signings in other areas. In the meantime, young left-back Niels Nkounkou, a summer signing from Marseille, will be afforded a chance to stake a claim during pre-season.
With under three weeks to go until the start of the new season, everyone associated with Everton will hope for positive progress soon.
As the window so far has shown, patience is required more than ever.
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