Rumoured FFP changes may alter Everton summer transfer strategy

In a story today UEFA are apparently considering revising the much-criticised Financial Fair Play rules for Europe’s clubs. So will this alter the transfer strategy of clubs like Everton?

FFP has been hugely controversial with claims that it has been applied inconsistently in favour of the wealthiest and successful clubs and to the detriment of co-called ‘lesser’ clubs like Everton.

The system was supposedly designed to create a more level playing field between clubs particularly in the transfer market.

One of the key rules is the level of debt in relation to income incurred by a club. At the moment the Toffees have record amounts of debt and are skating close to breaching those rules.

The impact of Covid 19 is obvioulsy central to this discussion and meant that UEFA relaxed the rules last year and now appears to be a major reason for the willingness to consider major reform of the system.

According to a journalist Tancredi Palmeri, UEFA are now looking at further relaxation of these rules to allow clubs to spend more in upcoming transfer windows.

So of course this could have an impact on Everton’s transfer plans. The club are again hinting that there won’t be a considerable spend this summer with only two or three players being brought in.

The Liverpool Echo speculate that the Blues might be including the two players on loan at the moment, Robin Olsen and Josh King, in that number.

More from Prince Rupert's Tower

I hope not because the Toffees do need major reinforcement in several key positions as we’ve said before, especially at right-back, central midfield and in attack.

If they include the two loan players then that would mean that only one new player is likely to arrive, which would not be enough.

A complication on this situation is what happened to Olsen and his family recently. It may be because of that he decides he wants to leave for pastures new.

One other element to this is the situation with Jean-Philippe Gbamin. The 2019 signing has been out for eighteen months now and his long-awaited and almost mythical return to fitness has been going on for an awful long time.

If he were to return to fitness soon then that might make Carlo Ancelotti think that he doesn’t need to bring in another midfielder so freeing him to concentrate on other areas of the team.

But regardless I think Everton still need some major investment in other areas of the team before they go into next season.

Home/Transfer Rumors

FFP changes may alter Everton summer strategy

By Matt Townsend | Mar 25, 2021

More from Prince Rupert's Tower