Kevin Thelwell discusses Everton’s lack of transfer deadline day signings and the selling of Alex Iwobi.
Kevin Thelwell has delivered an update to Everton fans ahead of their Premier League match against Arsenal.
Kevin Thelwell, Everton’s director of football, has addressed why the club did not make any fresh signings on transfer deadline day.
Despite allowing four players to leave the club, the Blues did not make a single addition on deadline day earlier this month. Alex Iwobi, the most high-profile departure, joined Fulham for a cost of £22 million.
Tom Cannon was also sold to Leicester City in a move worth up to £7.5 million, while Neal Maupay was loaned back to Brentford for the remainder of the season. Jean-Philippe Gbamin’s contract was terminated.
Dyche conceded that Everton’s failure to complete a transfer deadline deal was ‘not ideal,’ and now Thelwell has clarified that a combination of the players available being at a ‘premium price’ and the club’s financial model meant a choice was taken to stick with what the Blues already had.
“I’ve also been asked why we didn’t bring anyone in on the final day of the transfer window, despite the sales of Alex Iwobi and Tom Cannon,” he explained to evertonfc.com.
“Both sales were financially advantageous to the club. The primary aspect for possible incomings was the players available on the final day of the window.The reality is that, at that point in the window, excellent players to improve us come at a premium price. Sean, the board, and I have a responsibility to continue constructing a squad that is suitable for Everton, both on and off the field, and we didn’t want to jeopardize that.
“This included not fully utilizing the maximum number of loan deals we could have made.” Sean mentioned last week about having a squad with enough depth but also one where everyone can participate and do their part.
“We were hesitant to bring in players who we didn’t believe were better than what we already had and who were unlikely to see a lot of playing time.”
“Of course, there is always room for improvement, and we did not sign all of our targets, but it was a solid window working under difficult financial constraints, with the transfer fees raised from player sales also putting the club in a better position going forward.”
