Keith Wyness explains SCR impact of Everton and Crystal Palace deal: ‘I’ve done swaps like this…’

Everton and Crystal Palace will both see their SCR standing boosted by the swap deal involving Brennan Johnson and Dwight McNeil. 

That is according to former Toffees chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the deal will be logged as two separate transactions.

This comes amid speculation from supporters as to how the finances of the deal will work, given that Palace paid £35million for Johnson back in January, and McNeil was out of contract at Everton in June 2027.

Wyness indicated that Palace will be able to write off that fee across what would have been the remaining four years of Johnson’s contract, while Everton have gained value from McNeil that would not have been present.

The Scottish businessman believes that the deal “suits” both clubs in a financial sense, and also provides benefit to both in terms of their respective squads. 

Johnson failed to score for Palace in 26 appearances last season, while McNeil turned out just 22 times for the Toffees in the league. 

Keith Wyness believes Everton have got value boost

Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and also spent time at Aston Villa – believes that the Toffees have gained value from McNeil, regardless of his exact valuation as part of the transfer. 

The winger had been heading towards a departure on a free transfer next summer, but has now helped the Merseysiders to bring in a new player in his place. 

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained how the transaction will work, and also the positive potential behind swap deals.

“It's going to be important in the way it's booked financially in terms of the wages for the clubs,” he said.

“I've done quite a few swaps in the past, one in particular that I loved that really paid off well at Villa was my old friend Albert Adomah, who came from Middlesbrough and we swapped him for Adama Traore.

“Everybody thought Traore was the prize we were giving away, and Albert outperformed him by a factor of about four or five in my opinion. So it can work in that way more than people think.

“This will be booked as two individual transactions, and Palace will be able to write off their £35m over the four years. Everton will be able to get a value for McNeil that they probably wouldn't have been able to get in the open market.

“So it really suits both clubs in terms of the SCR situations.”

Everton remain keen on Jacob Murphy deal

Football Insider revealed earlier this week that Everton remain keen to sign Newcastle winger Jacob Murphy in the final weeks of the summer window. 

The Toffees were heavily linked with the 31-year-old earlier in the summer, and their interest still remains, despite the move to add Johnson to their group.

Moyes is still hoping to add more wide options to his squad, and Murphy is seen as a cost-effective option with plenty of Premier League experience. 

He is out of contract at St James’ Park in June 2027, but new boss Matthias Jaissle is expected to address his future in the coming weeks.