‘Everton fans will hate me for saying this’ – Keith Wyness drops controversial European claim
Everton should wait another season and strengthen the squad in the summer transfer window before competing in Europe.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, with the Toffees only three points off fifth-placed Liverpool in the Premier League table.
Everton have not qualified for Europe since the 2017-18 season, with many of their recent Premier League campaigns seeing the club fighting against relegation to the Championship.
David Moyes is enjoying his second spell on Merseyside, but the 62-year-old has a thin squad to choose from which needs strengthening in the summer ahead of next season.
Everton travel to fellow European hopefuls Brentford next in the Premier League, where three points would boost hopes of a top five finish.
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VISIT THE EVERTON MATCH HUBEverton fans ‘will hate’ Keith Wyness’ admission
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes the current squad may not be able to cope with the demands of European football.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness wants the club to continue to settle into the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
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| Games Lost | 7 |
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It’s going to come a season too early for Everton.
“Everton fans will hate me for saying that. They all want to go on European tours. David Moyes has said it as well. He thinks it would be good for the squad.
“I’m the one voice that’s saying I’d rather wait another season. I’d rather get us really built into that stadium and have more nights like last Saturday [vs Chelsea], which was probably the best that they’ve had since the stadium opened.
“We broke the noise record in terms of European stadiums. I mean, that’s big. And so I think just strengthening the squad this summer and not having Thursday, Sunday in terms of one of the minor European competitions would be the best for us.”
Everton targeting West Ham star
Sources have told Football Insider that Moyes wants to reunite with midfielder Tomas Soucek at Everton in the summer transfer window.
The pair worked together when Moyes was manager of West Ham, and relegation for the London club could see them forced to sell their key players.
Soucek’s contract at the London Stadium expires in 2027, but European qualification could see the club change their plans and target other midfield options.
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