Keith Wyness drops Everton transfer verdict after Nick Hammond agrees deal

Everton likely have no choice but to hand a new contract to their transfer guru Nick Hammond.

That is according to former Toffees chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes it is ultimately the right move for the head of player trading to get a new deal.

The Everton chief has reportedly agreed a new deal at the club which will keep him in charge of player recruitment until at least the end of next summer. 

Wyness feels that while scrutiny on Hammond is inevitable, Everton would not have been able to secure an upgrade now that the club is up for sale.

The Merseysiders endured a disastrous end to the summer transfer window, with many supporters feeling that David Moyes’ squad has been left short in several positions.

Perhaps most notably at the top of the pitch, where the failure to bring in Folarin Balogun at the last minute has left Thierno Barry as the only senior striker at the club.

Everton backed into corner with Nick Hammond

Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that his former club would not have been able to adequately replace Hammond with all the uncertainty surrounding them at the moment. 

With that in mind, he feels that it was effectively inevitable that the transfer chief was handed an extension to his deal, despite the fans’ frustration. 

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained why Everton were almost backed into a corner when it came to Hammond’s future.

“I think it is the right move because who would come right now given that the club's up for sale?” He said.

“You might as well keep things on a continuity basis as much as you can. I've heard some mixed reviews, but nevertheless, I'd rather have stability and the same people in place understanding the situation, so it makes sense.

“The Friedkins don't want to upset the apple cart, so they want to have it as smooth sailing behind the scenes as possible. I think it's right for Hammond to stay on. Whether new owners will want him to carry on, we'll have to wait and see.”

Key Everton figure faces ‘interview’ with new owners

Wyness also recently told Football Insider that Everton’s chief executive Angus Kinnear will effectively face an “interview” with any potential owners ovr the coming months. 

The Scottish businessman feels that the next buyers are likely to keep a close eye on Kinnear’s work during the takeover process, and then decide whether they want to keep him on. 

Boardroom figures often change when a club’s ownership changes hands, but Wyness is adamant that Kinnear is a good candidate to stay on and help lead Ecverton into their next era. 

He has been in place with the Toffees since June 2025, and may not have to be concerned over his job just yet.