Kieran Maguire: Everton to sign ‘bargain’ hidden gems as FFP-busting plot revealed
Everton have been forced to abandon their brash transfer policy in favour of one which targets hidden gems.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about how Financial Fair Play concerns have impacted the Toffees’ recruitment strategy.
Everton have recorded losses of over £370million in the last three years alone and have only avoided punishment under the Premier League’s spending rules because of allowances made for the pandemic.
CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale wrote in an open letter on 23 December that director of football Kevin Thelwell had implemented a “120-point improvement plan” with an emphasis on recruitment among other departments.
Maguire claims that part of this overhaul will have been a rethink about the way the club conducts itself in the transfer market.
“Spending it money and spending it well are two different things,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“Since Farhad Moshiri acquired the club, they have spent £647m on players. It would be difficult to recall many of those who have been a success.
“The new strategy of trying to get things right under Thelwell rather than just spending big will have to manifest itself.
“Everton are in a sticky wicket in terms of Financial Fair Play. They have minimal wiggle room in terms of making large purchases going forward.
“In the future, they will try and find bargains, players who can develop into sellable assets. That is absolutely critical for the club.“
In other news, Everton make move to sign Anthony Elanga as asking price revealed.