‘I’ve not been told’ – Sean Dyche makes Everton transfer admission after Deadline Day sales

Sean Dyche has had scarring experiences from his two transfer windows at Everton so far. With days left of his third, he believes the club is finally in a position to withstand any late opportunism from rivals

Steve Stone (L) and Sean Dyche of Everton before the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Everton and Luton Town at Goodison Park. Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images
Steve Stone (L) and Sean Dyche before the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Everton and Luton Town at Goodison Park. Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images (Image: Everton FC via Getty Images)

As the transfer window heads into its final days, Sean Dyche is not expecting a nasty surprise.

When he was appointed this time last year the blow to the squad had already been dealt as Anthony Gordon was sold to Newcastle United, strengthening Everton’s accounts but weakening the new manager’s hand for the survival fight that followed.

In the summer the final day of the window held a punch as trusted Alex Iwobi was sold to Fulham.

With Everton’s two most recent sets of accounts both the subject of Premier League investigations, Dyche could have been forgiven for fearing the worst as he carried his threadbare group into the new year. But, he believes, Everton can resist interest in his stars this time around.

New Everton Stadium phase begins as specialist crane used to add historic detail
Dyche has several players who are attracting attention going into this week.

Amadou Onana and Jarrad Branthwaite are on the radar of clubs fighting in, or for, Champions League football. While both talents would come at the type of price that has not been seen across this transfer window so far, there remains concern an opportunistic suitor could attempt to move now, believing that Everton are vulnerable due to the uncertainty off the pitch as a prospective takeover drags on and the club fights allegations of spending breaches across consecutive years.

Abdoulaye Doucoure, whose impact on Everton’s survival last season and progress during this campaign has been immense, is on the radar of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq. His value to Everton and Dyche has only increased with the time he has spent unavailable due to recent hamstring issues. Everton missed him dearly in the FA Cup defeat to Luton Town on Saturday.

The loss of any of those three would severely hit Dyche’s plans and sanctioning a departure would be a risk given the precarious league position Everton occupies following the 10 point deduction handed out for the first of the Premier League cases against the club – a punishment that is being appealed.

Unlike in recent transfer windows – Everton sold Richarlison in the summer before Dyche’s arrival in a failed attempt to satisfy financial regulations – the current manager believes his club can withstand any late bid to prise away a key player, particularly one that does not reach the club’s own valuation.

He said: “I just don’t think we are in that space at the moment, we don’t need to be in that space [of selling players cheaply]. I think the club can at least control its finances at this time. I’ve certainly not been told we have to do anything other than crack on with what we’re doing, concentrate on the team and winning games.”

Contrasting that to the summer, when starlet striker Tom Cannon was also sold on deadline day, he added: “Some of the work from the last window is paying us back now. Because obviously it is in better shape. Some of the contract [decisions] were necessities. Fans were asking why we were letting that player and that player go, there is a reason… [And] Our deals had to be constructed to the future because of our financial situation. As much as cutting it down and levelling it out and managing the situation has been awkward, and it still is, it’s in a different shape now.”

Dyche also made the point that he needed to be left with a squad that was competitive and, while he acknowledged his unit was not big enough to comfortably withstand a lot of injuries, he believes he can work with the players at his disposal. He said: “You want to keep your best players and I think the club are aware of that. We have skinnied down the squad, we have got it to a point where injuries do affect it, but we are finding a way through those periods. There is only so far that the cutting can go until you go ‘right, we still need a group that are competitive’ and I think we have got that, the injuries are just not helpful.”

Everton had ‘lucky escape’ over Leeds United transfer – but pursuit may not be over
Abdoulaye Doucoure transfer latest as Everton ‘approached’ by Saudi Pro League club
ITV Coronation Street fans all asking Samia Longchambon the same question
Marks & Spencer’s £35 ‘affordable little black dress’ with ‘stretchy fabric’
New Everton Stadium phase begins as specialist crane used to add historic detail
Share this on

Everton had ‘lucky escape’ over Leeds United transfer – but pursuit may not be over