El Ghazi signing may tie new Everton manager Lampard’s hands

As Frank Lampard edges closer to being confirmed as Everton manager, one of owner Farhad Moshiri’s latest interventions will tie his hands in the transfer window.

We’ve all got used to Moshiri making some strange and unexpected decisions since he has become Everton owner.

One of those has almost been forgotten given the chaos and confusion this month with Rafa Benitez’s sacking and then yet another protracted search for a new manager.

Just before Benitez left and when he was selling Lucas Digne to Aston Villa, rumours circulating claimed the Toffees were about to sign a Villa player Anwar El Ghazi.

The Netherlands winger had never previously been linked with the Blues and now suddenly he was supposedly on the club’s radar.

Initially, this deal was mooted as a makeweight in the Digne deal, but it quickly became apparent that this was a separate transfer.

The reason for the deal was it seems the input of Kia Joorabchian, the former so-called ‘super agent’ who has now become a voice behind the throne at Everton influencing Moshiri.

El Ghazi was a client of Joorabchian and so despite the fact it appeared clear that his then manager Benitez didn’t want the player, he was brought in on loan.

A few days after this fiasco Benitez was gone and everyone’s attention switched to who would be his replacement and the Toffees sixth new manager under Moshiri’s ownership.

Now, as it seems that Lampard is virtually certain to become that new manager, although this is Everton so it could all still fall apart!

Assuming he does finally have his appointment confirmed, Lampard will find his hands tied as he tries to recruit new players before the transfer window closes because of this bizarre decision.

Because of new rules the club can only bring in two domestic players on loan and with El Ghazi having been signed that presumably leaves Lampard with only one addition available.

I hope that the Dutch winger can contribute something to Everton’s fight to escape relegation and maybe he will do just that.

And in truth, given how little time is left anyway with the window shutting tomorrow night Lampard will have very little time to get much business done, but he still might have been able to get another two players in.

This Toffees team needs better players in most positions. In particular though, I think central midfield and centre-back should be the priorities in this window.

It looks like the one player Lampard will sign is Donny van De Beek, like El Ghazi another Dutch player. The stories around this deal, which the Blues tried to get done in the summer, claim it’s very likely van De Beek will join Everton.

If he joins, the Manchester United midfielder will hopefully shore up that critical area of the team ravaged again by injuries with Abdoulaye Doucoure now also out for a month.

But, it would have been good for Everton to have had the choice to add another player if possible. However, that won’t be possible because of Moshiri’s interference in this area again.

Let’s hope Lampard can convince the owner to leave well alone going forward and let him, his coaches and Tim Cahill decide who to buy and sell and then maybe he might succeed.