The Athletic reporter Greg O’Keeffe has been discussing the stance of ‘people behind the scenes at Everton’ on previous transfer dealings and how they have shaped their strategy for this summer.
In recent months, two main transfer rumours have circulated around the Toffees, one being a link with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and the other being Gabriel Magalhaes.
Both rumours have been widely reported and dragged on for several months, with other clubs touted to be interested in both players.
So, in the latest episode of the All Together Now podcast, O’Keeffe discussed how ‘people behind the scenes at Everton’ have felt about transfer targets being widely known.
He said: “I think there’s people behind the scenes at Everton who’ve felt that too much has got out in recent times. An example: the interest in Hojbjerg and Gabriel Magalhaes, as well, at Lille.
“Too much has got out, [there have] been too many leaks. The media get hold of stories too often and it makes the club’s position, for them trying to get the deal done, much, much harder in terms of the economics of [the] affordability of transfers.
“Clubs can generate fake auctions and try and use Everton’s interest or ‘interest’ from other clubs, and it complicates the whole process.
“I think, what they want to be a pattern of this window is that Everton’s business arrives unexpected, a bit like Liverpool do. So, I think Everton want to emulate them really and just not be gazumped or messed around as much.”
TIF Thoughts…
As can be judged from what O’Keeffe had to say, seemingly, the Toffees want to approach the current transfer window with a little more tact than has been previously seen.
Do you think Everton could have worked with more tact in the transfer market previously?
Yes, it's not been ideal for us
No, it's impossible these days
However, with the two examples of Hojbjerg and Magalhaes having been widely reported, it appears Everton’s desired strategy is not going to plan just yet.