“Everton’s Delicate Balancing Act: Navigating Transfer Ambitions with Caution”
Everton appears to have improved their transfer strategy, but there remains a concern that the club might backslide.
Despite the off-pitch points deduction chaos, the past 12 months have been unusually smooth on the field.
The team seems to be embracing Sean Dyche’s straightforward philosophy, and if not for a record winless streak midway through the Premier League season, they would have finished even further from the relegation zone, already ending 14 points clear.
Kevin Thelwell deserves praise for assembling a competitive squad, but he unsurprisingly wants more.
He must be cautious not to overextend with transfers.
With Armando Broja expected to leave Chelsea, this deal might be necessary given Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s uncertain future at Everton.
Calvert-Lewin, reluctant to sign a new contract and having passed on a move to Newcastle United, leaving Everton’s deal for Yankuba Minteh in limbo, leaves Thelwell searching the market as a precaution.
Thelwell seems to have targeted Armando Broja, with Everton’s interest in him well-documented over recent months.
Although the latest update on Broja’s future doesn’t directly mention Everton, journalist Ben Jacobs notes: “Now Armando Broja is back from Euro 2024, he is expected to leave Chelsea with talks likely to advance quickly.”
Everton should avoid risky transfers.
While Broja is a promising young striker with potential similarities to Calvert-Lewin, the fee Chelsea will demand is not something Everton should consider paying, despite meeting the PSR deadline.
Broja is relatively unproven in the Premier League, with just one full season on loan at Southampton three years ago, where he scored only six goals.
Last season, despite a historic dry spell, Calvert-Lewin still managed seven goals.
Broja might have a brighter future as Everton’s leading striker and could thrive at Goodison Park.
However, he might also struggle under the pressure of being the new number nine at Everton and may not adapt well to Dyche’s system.