Kieran Maguire: Everton may have just saved ‘£30m’ after Benitez talks revealed
Everton could have just saved “£30million” if Rafael Benitez has been successful in persuading rising stars to stay at the club.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the academy production line at Finch Farm.
Benitez was recently involved in a behind-the-scenes power struggle with ex-director of football Marcel Brands, as revealed by this site on 1 December.
Brands, who presided over the Toffees as they lost £139.9million last year, left the club a week later.
The Dutchman was accused by some Everton fans and commentators of prioritising big-name signings over nurturing homegrown talent.
As relayed by The Guardian last month (25 December), Benitez confirmed that he has reassured young stars there is now a pathway to the first team.
Maguire explains that the Spaniard may have saved Everton big money on transfer expenditure in the process.
“It works in two ways,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“If you’re an Evertonian, it’s great to see local players come through, with an increased sense of pride and belonging.
“There is also what we refer to as an ‘opportunity cost’. A player that comes through may cost £20m or £30m in the first place as you don’t have to recruit.
“Then there is the potential to sell them at a profit. All of the sales proceeds go into the FFP pot.
“The downside is that the managers are under so much pressure that they are looking at their position at the club all the time. They don’t feel secure.
“If you try to give a young player a run of three games and you lose the first two, there is pressure from the fans.
“Fans say they want to see players come through but they actually want to win every game.”
Tom Davies, Jonjoe Kenny and Anthony Gordon are currently flying the flag for the academy system in the first-team side.
Gordon, a 20-year-old winger, netted twice in his lasting outing, the 3-2 defeat to Brighton last Saturday (1 January).
In other news, pundit “feels sorry” Dominic Calvert-Lewin after horror Everton reveal.