Everton: Deadline Day a story of what might have been

Despite a successful transfer window overall, Everton are left feeling frustrated after events on Deadline Day.

When considering the summer transfer window as a whole, it was extremely successful for Everton. The list of acquisitions makes for exciting reading, including the likes of Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Davy Klaassen, Gylfi Sigurdsson and — of course — Wayne Rooney.

And yet, a bitter taste has been left in the mouth, after the events which took place on Deadline Day. Or more to the point, the events which didn’t take place.

For a start, as we’ve already covered, the Blues were unable to rid themselves of the albatross that is Ross Barkley. After a fee worth up to £35 million was agreed with Chelsea, the England international rejected the chance to move to Stamford Bridge.

(It has since been claimed by a source close to Barkley, as per a report from BBC Sport, that the midfielder turned down the move to Chelsea before his medical. The question is, should Evertonians believe this, or the words of majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, who claims the medical had already taken place?)

In addition, Everton had been hoping to bring in a left-sided defender and striker, before the 11:00 pm BST deadline on Aug. 31. Unfortunately for the team and their fans, neither addition transpired.

We recently wrote about the Blues opening talks with Belgian international Thomas Vermaelen. However, as reported by the Echo‘s Phil Kirkbride, Barcelona refused to sanction the move, which would have initially been on loan with a view to eventually becoming permanent.

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• Everton striking legend Gray urges Dyche to put Beto and DCL up front

However, arguably the most disappointing event on Thursday, was the Toffees’ inability to bring in a striker to replace Romelu Lukaku. Just don’t accuse them of not trying, after being linked to the likes of James Vardy, Michy Batshuayi and Lucas Perez in the last few days alone.

Unfortunately, when you have two months to find a striker and enter the final day still searching, the risk was always going to be that you would miss out altogether. Regardless, there is a vibe of what might have been.

In fact, this feeling is only increased, when you read a report from Stuart Ballard of the Express, which indicates Olivier Giroud wanted to join Everton. However, the Arsenal player’s wife apparently prevented the deal taking place, because she didn’t want to move to Merseyside.

The claim was made by Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam, while speaking on Radio 5 Live. And whether it’s true or not, the story perfectly sums up a frustrating and unsatisfying Deadline Day for Ronald Koeman and the Blues.

Next: Everton suffer the blues after Barkley rejects Chelsea move

What’s your take on the events which took place — or more to the point, didn’t — on Thursday? Taking everything into account, how confident are you in the Blues’ ability to challenge for a top four spot? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.