Everton again struggling in transfer market
As the days count down Everton have still not made a significant signing in this transfer window and despite a flurry of constant stories about potential signings, there is still no certainty the Blues will make a substantial move before Friday’s deadline.
Once again the Everton hierarchy has seemed from the outside to be slow and indecisive in their transfer dealings and as the window ticks on, it feels as though we shouldn’t be expecting anything big to happen before the end of Friday.
This is a very frustrating situation. Of course the January window is the most difficult one in which to sign any new players. The ramifications of Financial Fair Play regulations are a major factor too, especially given the huge debts the Blues have accrued. There are also so many footballers Everton need to get off the books asap.
However it is also very much on a par with previous transfer windows, as the Toffees are linked with a bewildering array of players only to end up signing none of them or completely different ones, more or less out of the blue, so to speak.
The problem the club has making quick and decisive moves seems to be an ongoing issue with the way that Everton are conducting their transfer business, regardless of the financial situation.
There is a pattern here and it’s one that is leaving Everton looking increasingly less competitive in the transfer market. Even the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti with the pulling power he has, isn’t necessarily going to have a decisive impact in this case.
It’s like Ancelotti arrived two or three seasons too late. If the Blues had got him when Koeman left in 2017 for example, just imagine where the club and team might be now?
I was one of those Evertonians who was excited when Marcel Brands joined the club. I felt he would give the Blues an improved presence in the transfer market and would help raise the profile of the club, something that is very important in helping Everton compete for better talent.
He had a good track record finding and attracting talented young players. And indeed several of his early signings were unexpected, effective and at least to some extent, successful; think Lucas Digne, Andre Gomes etc.
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However several more recent signings haven’t been as effective and have raised questions about Brands’ judgement. In particular the failure to add another centre-back before the last deadline day once a deal for Kurt Zouma was over, has come back to bite Everton hard.
So today there are new stories that strongly rumoured deals for players like Matias Vecino and Everton Soares are both unlikely to happen, who knows what’s really going on?!
I’m not convinced either of these players are the answer for the Toffees, but once again it looks as though the Blues might be going to miss out on bringing in any quality reinforcements before deadline day.
I hope this isn’t the case, that I will be proved wrong and that Everton can at least bring in one top quality addition, especially a midfielder, before the end of Friday’s deadline.