Player sales would not be a disaster for Everton – if ownership situation is resolved

With uncertainty continuing to swirl around the club, it is little wonder that Everton fans are fearing a mass exodus of players out of Goodison Park this summer.

Manager Sean Dyche has tried to settle their nerves by saying key players would ‘not necessarily’ have to be sold if the club’s ownership situation was resolved. 

Although Dyche’s eagerness to focus on the issues he can control is an enviable trait, his comments are unlikely to stop the supporters worrying over the next few months.

The reality of Everton’s situation means several influential players will be targeted by other clubs during the upcoming transfer window.

Amadou Onana, Jarrad Branthwaite and Jordan Pickford are the club’s most saleable assets and have already been strongly linked with moves elsewhere.

Much like if they played games at new slot sites, Everton fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that the club can hit the jackpot by keeping their top stars.

The aforementioned trio are a solid platform for Dyche to build around, but it worth considering that their sales could actually be positive news for the club.

Other clubs such as Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford have successfully leveraged player trading in recent years and the model has obvious benefits for Everton at the moment.

Director of Football Kevin Thelwell’s transfer kitty would be swelled by the influx of cash, which would boost the club’s chances of buying suitable replacements.

In conjunction with Dyche, he would need to identify value-for-money alternatives who fit into the ‘team-first’ culture fostered by the manager.

Having spent most of his 15 months at the club firefighting, Dyche would welcome the opportunity to put more of his own stamp on the squad.

Losing key players could be construed as taking a backwards step, yet the long-term gain by adopting this approach is well worth the risk.

Dyche has demonstrated he is capable of working with players to maximise their ability and he deserves the chance to replicate the same at Everton.

Onana, Branthwaite and Pickford have all played a key role in keeping Everton in the Premier League, but losing them would not be the end of the world.

The recruitment team, led by Dan Purdy, have had more hits than misses in the transfer market over the past couple of years despite working inside tough financial parameters.

Additional income from player sales would give them more wiggle room this summer to acquire rough diamonds Dyche could polish into future gems.

Blackburn Rovers star Sammie Szmodics and Hull City’s Jacob Greaves have been touted as potential targets and are the type of players Dyche loves working with.

A possible loan move for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale would be shrewd, particularly given he has a point to prove after being badly treated at Arsenal.

Replacing Branthwaite would arguably be the toughest job for the club, especially with many people tipping him to become a regular in the England team.

However, if the funds from player sales was used wisely, Everton would be able to head into next season with a stronger squad.

Unfortunately for Everton fans, speculating about what could happen during the summer transfer window is a currently an exercise in futility.

The long-running takeover debacle shows little sign of being resolved, with the Premier League yet to rubber-stamp 777 Partners as the club’s new owners.

The investment firm agreed a deal to buy Farhad Moshiri’s stake eight months ago, but the deal has yet to be finalised despite their £200 million loan to the club.

Two London-based asset management companies have accused 777 of pledging more than £279m in assets as collateral to despite knowing they had been pledged to another lender.

Moshiri has insisted that 777 are the ‘right partner’ for the club and has held face-to-face talks with co-owner Josh Wander to ‘seek clarity’ over the proposed takeover.

The two parties are hopeful of reaching a resolution before the home game against Sheffield United, but fans would be well advised not to get their hopes up.

The Everton Shareholders' Association (EFCSA) have called on Moshiri to end the ‘farce’ and recognise that 777 are not ‘fit-and-proper prospective owners of the club.

While their stance is admirable, Moshiri has rarely paid attention to the fans and is unlikely to be swayed by the EFCSA’s statement.

With the Premier League seemingly nowhere to be seen as the shambles rolls on, the club’s supporters can only cling to the hope that the situation is resolved.

If the ownership situation is satisfactorily settled, this summer offers Everton the chance to assemble a squad that Dyche can go to war with.

The next couple of weeks will determine whether that is a realistic aim or nothing more than a pipe dream.

---

Return to Talking Points index  :  Add your Comments »

---

---

How to get rid of these ads and support TW

---