Marcel Brands has commented on Everton’s protracted pursuit of Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha last summer, claiming that the Ivorian was always an ‘unrealistic’ target.
Everton were heavily linked with the Palace frontman during the close season, with Sky Sports first reporting in July that the Toffees had made a £55million bid.
It was then reported in August by Sky Sports that Everton had made a heavily improved bid, offering £70million plus both Cenk Tosun and James McCarthy, both of whom are now Palace players although not from an exchange deal for Zaha.
Everton weren’t able to sign Zaha, and then following the end of the transfer window, reliable source Paul Joyce of the Times reported on Twitter that Everton had actually only made one bid for the 27-year old – a £52million offer in July, and while the Toffees would have been willing to offer £60million, they didn’t as they knew the Eagles would reject it.
Speaking at Everton’s General Meeting on Tuesday night (via the Liverpool Echo), director of football Brands has commented on Everton’s interest in Zaha, amid rumours claiming that the forward could leave Selhurst Park this month. Brands said of Everton’s interest:
Look at last summer, from the start there were a lot of rumours and news that we would like to take Zaha.
And if you see our numbers then you know it is not realistic for Everton to buy a player for £60m, £70m, £80m.
So that kind of expectation is sometimes a different kind of expectation for fans and it is not realistic and we have to manage that.
Of course, we want to get the best players but we have to be realistic if you see our numbers.
Read Everton Verdict
While I’m not sure exactly which numbers Brands is talking about, as the club revealed plenty of information and data about their finances during the GM, it is clear that the Dutchman has warned fans off building expectation for gigantic signings for the club.
Farhad Moshiri’s net worth is estimated to be worth around $2billion (Forbes), and Everton are certainly in a much strong financial position now than when they were owned and operated by Bill Kenwright, but in the process of building the club and in complying with financial fair play, a huge signing doesn’t appear to be a realistic aim.
On paper, signing both Alex Iwobi and Moise Kean instead works out better for Everton. The duo have plenty of potential to develop and become Premier League stars, while signing two players instead of just one adds more quality to the squad and allows the club to fill more than one position.
Brands’ statement does seem like a message to fans, that when the papers begin to claim that Everton are interested in a mega-money move for whoever, that maybe it is best to take that with a pinch of salt.
Comments.
Loading comments…