Ancelotti: Everton do not need to sell to buy

Thursday, 13 May, 2021 32comments  |  Jump to most recent

Carlo Ancelotti has indicated that he and Marcel Brands are aligned over what Everton have to do in the transfer market this summer in order to improve the squad and laughed off the notion that the club might be sanctioned over financial fair play rules in view of the failed Super League.

The Blues remain in the hunt for European qualification as they prepare for a vital Premier League match at Aston Villa this evening but their season has been hampered by injuries to key players and a lack of squad depth.

Just like last year, the Italian appears to be committed to making impactful signings in the close season but there has always been assumption that Everton would need to offload fringe players first in order to remain within Uefa's Financial Fair Play regulations and the Premier League's own profit and sustainability rules.

Outgoings are expected when the current season comes to an end, with Moise Kean topping the list of players who could be sold, but Ancelotti says the club won't need to wait for sales to come to fruition.

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“The Premier League has to solve different problems than the financial fair play of Everton [because of] the fact that six teams wanted to go in[to] the Super League,” he told print journalists following his pre-match press conference in front of the broadcast media yesterday afternoon.

“First of all they have to take care of this and then, maybe, they can have a look at Everton. But we are going to look at ourselves.

“If they looked at us, with the problem they had with the top six that wanted to join the Super League, that would be funny. Of course, we will take care of our financial aspect but we can buy without selling players this summer for sure.”

It's not clear how big a budget Brands will be working with this summer but he and Ancelotti landed some key signings in their first close season together when they acquired James Rogriguez, Allan, Abdoulaye Doucouré and Ben Godfrey for around £60m.

Norwich City right-back Max Aarons who is valued at around £30m has been linked with a move to Goodison as has Brentford striker Ivan Toney who could fetch a similar fee. Moves for a wide player like Wolfsburg's Josep Brekalo and a central midfielder have also mooted.

“We're all agreed on the plan we have to improve the squad and there is no doubt we are totally focused on this,” Ancelotti continued. “We are totally agreed, from the manager, the club and the technical director, Marcel Brands.”

 

Reader Comments (32)

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Gavin Johnson
1 Posted 12/05/2021 at 00:01:34
A very positive interview and the right message from the club. We can afford to out-muscle so called top6 sides like Spurs and take advantage of their financial woes. Next season is a real opportunity to finish in the top 4. I've seen musings that FFP is going to be relaxed next season anyway, but if it isn't, how can the FA and UEFA come down on us after what's happened?! They can't!
Don Alexander
2 Posted 13/05/2021 at 01:43:41
With the mediocre experience, at best, us lot have had to endure for decades, together with the prospect of funding a new stadium, I wouldn't rejoice about the average season just played out by the likes of Arsenal and Spurs in their new, expensive, stadiums.

Likewise, I wouldn't rejoice on the expectation that the Monty Python-esque football authorities wouldn't just find a way to seek out out one historic club to make an example of re FFP, "pour encourager les autres".

And I don't really understand why Carlo now feels the need to say anything of this at all at the moment.

Oh well.

Karl Masters
3 Posted 13/05/2021 at 02:20:19
Probably because he was asked, Don. Good to see confidence and positivity from him.
Kieran Kinsella
4 Posted 13/05/2021 at 03:32:00
Don

Lol if he wasn’t asked and just raised this topic for the fun of it then it’s time for Carlo to go to the funny farm. The problem with these news reports is they don’t offer the context eg some troublemaker asking him the question to begin with.

Albert Perkins
5 Posted 13/05/2021 at 04:29:12
Carlo might be just testing the waters to see what push back he gets from the authorities. Looks like they have thought this through and have decided that the dirty 6 won't be losing points and that would make it hypocritical to punish the Blues. Not that it hasn't happened before
Alan J Thompson
6 Posted 13/05/2021 at 06:30:01
It is a valid point though. If those six or nine clubs are pushing for an ESL as they need the additional income then that should be where UEFA look first. Anything less must raise questions of favouritism and culpability.
Jim Bennings
7 Posted 13/05/2021 at 06:30:37
In my opinion less money spent this summer but far better scouting would go a long way.

We have had too many summer's lately where we've paid over the odds on average players.

To be fair last summer was one of our more productive, Allan and James are really good players just not on the pitch regularly enough.

Godfrey is immense and I think Doucoure makes the side better when he's in it.

We just need a bit more pace on the flanks and another more reliable creative attacking midfielder.

Robert Tressell
8 Posted 13/05/2021 at 07:25:51
Good that we're still in this position post Covid. Wonder whether there will be any firesales of players around Europe with clubs counting the huge cost of lost income.

As for scouting gems, Jim, most are hiding in plain sight and known well to the clubs. The availability of information is staggering. You'd have to be a 15 year old playing in Gabon to go under the radar of the most sophisticated scouting networks. It just takes a bit of courage sometimes - and I guess that means trusting a scout's judgement

Vijay Nair
9 Posted 13/05/2021 at 07:36:23
This Brekalo lad is another right footed left winger. Not sure why we would be after another one of those. Lazy journalism at its worst.

What we need is a left footed right winger like Matheus Pereira. Premiership experience, right age (25), with a decent strike rate. With West Brom now relegated, they should be open to selling.

Neil Lawson
10 Posted 13/05/2021 at 08:21:11
Whatever happened to right footed right wingers who could cross a ball on the run ?
Vijay Nair
11 Posted 13/05/2021 at 08:58:29
We have fullbacks for that now Neil :)
Colin Glassar
12 Posted 13/05/2021 at 09:31:27
Sadly a thing of the past, Neil. Nowadays everyone copies each other like automatons.

Remember when everyone used plasters to open their nostrils, or covered their shirts in Vicks to improve breathing? Now it’s all arseing around in the penalty box on goal kicks, passing it out from the back (endlessly and mindlessly), having someone lie on the ground behind a wall - the most ridiculous one so far.

There’s no original thinking in football anymore. Whoever is successful the rest follow like obedient sheep even if they don’t have the personnel to do it.

We have a brilliant young striker in DCL but we don’t have anyone, apart from Digne, who can cross a ball naturally. God, if only we had Dave Thomas back DCL would be on 30 goals a season.

Dave Williams
13 Posted 13/05/2021 at 09:39:47
Colin- what a dream that would be!!
I don’t see the need for a CB as we have a few decent ones who will look better with a midfield which can retain possession and pass forwards thus relieving pressure on the defence. A creative CM and an attacking, pacey winger are paramount for me.
Colin Glassar
14 Posted 13/05/2021 at 09:50:42
Same here, Dave. MF players (2 at least) who can look up and pass forward, not the crab-like players we currently have. A new, dynamic RB. A pacy right winger and someone to keep DCL on his toes (Dzeko for a season or two?)

So I think we definitely need 4-5 new players this summer and we can rid ourselves of at least seven players eg Besic, Bolasie, Walcott, Iwobi, Delph, Gomes, Kean, Iwobi and some of the kids who aren’t going to make it to free up funds.

John Boswell
15 Posted 13/05/2021 at 10:34:56
When the boss says that he does not need to sell to buy is he signalling his intention to keep Moise Kean?
I would consider retaining, Gomes, Iwobi and Delph (if no buyers) for squad rotation or injury cover. Can Iwobi become a central playmaker?
Will we / can we sell Bernard?
I anticipate a good number of personnel changes this summer including a surprise exit or two, Carlo magnifico will be ruthless. COYB.
Barry Rathbone
16 Posted 13/05/2021 at 10:56:22
The key phrase is "it's not clear what budget Brands has" because ineffectual sick notes on the cheap hasn't worked. Recruiting "proper" players will be expensive so without a serious budget it might take a long time to escape our "no trophy, mid table" stupor.

Maybe until the mersey floods BMD from "dangerous" (sic Obama) man made climate change - in other words never 😳😳

Christopher Timmins
17 Posted 13/05/2021 at 11:00:22
Financial muscle does not guarantee success but it sure is a big help. As previously stated I am hoping for 3 improvements in the next window and if achieved that would make us a top 6 side for the 21/22 season.

It's not easy to sell non performing players so I expect most of the players who are not out of contract to remain with the possible exception of Kean. Anyway, that's all for the end of the season, The only priority for now is Villa at 6.00pm.

Robert Tressell
18 Posted 13/05/2021 at 11:01:36
Barry "proper" players would be nice but unless we have £500m to spend then we're still adrift of the richest 4 in terms of quality. I think we'll end up with a net spend of circa £60m. It's progress, but it's not a revolution.
Bill Griffiths
19 Posted 13/05/2021 at 11:16:00
Well said Colin (#12) regarding Dave Thomas. In early responded to Neil at (#10) to say we need a right footed Dave Thomas who in my opinion is one of the greatest wingers of all time.
He could hit the by line at full speed and still deliver a brilliant cross.
As much as I loved Latchie DT has to take a lot of the credit for his 30 goals.
Tony Everan
20 Posted 13/05/2021 at 11:28:05
Colin @14 sums up the wish list to perfection. I don’t think there will be too much disagreement with it. The acceptable outgoings too .

Vijay, Pereira has been very impressive, great control and technique, direct and there’s plenty of goals in him, which we are crying out for. Just coming into his prime years too. He will certainly be moving on to some lucky club. If we can get him in with one or two being moved out (Iwobi) it would make us a more dangerous side. Has Brands still got Big Sam’s mobile number? Splash the cash on this lad. 25m?

Buendia would be a good buy for an attacking midfielder who can bring goals and assists whilst retaining some tenacity too. 30m?

I think that Allan is the no1 key player for us, we miss him when he is out. We need a back up to him to stay strong and consistent as he won’t play a full season.

Aarons will be a quality long term solution at right back, and there will be other very good options if the price is too high.

If the signings are as well targeted as last summer we can push on next season. Maybe we’ll even win the odd home game too!

I want the budget to be focused on giving us more attacking threat and goals.

Right back and a reserve midfielder for Allan can be just slightly less prioritised for the big spending. Hopefully Brands can work is magic for these positions.

Barry Rathbone
21 Posted 13/05/2021 at 11:57:17
Robert Tressell 18

In which case hunker down for more of the same next season. The only good thing about this clubs predictability is not getting upset anymore, without expectation there is little disappointment

Thomas Richards
22 Posted 13/05/2021 at 11:58:29
Loosely translated as.

Fuck the lot of you.
We are spending brewsters

Andrew Ellams
23 Posted 13/05/2021 at 12:33:07
John @ 15, not needing to sell to buy doesn't mean players won't be sold. I think we can expect Kean to leave as well as some from the bench, especially Bernard.
Nick Page
24 Posted 13/05/2021 at 12:42:21
Like Colin, I’d get rid of Iwobi twice if I could. Horrible footballer. Add Sigurdsson to that list too. Definitely agree we need 4/5 quality, hungry players. Maybe a couple with experience but not some has-been looking for a pay day happy to sit in the physio room all season. Will be good to get shut of some of the shite we have on the books too when their contracts expire. How are we still paying Besic - you have to laugh (or cry).
Ian Bennett
25 Posted 13/05/2021 at 13:24:24
Stand by Goodison exercise.

Andrew Keatley
26 Posted 13/05/2021 at 14:04:11
Robert (18) - I don’t get your argument. You regularly suggest we should be looking to take risks on up and coming youngsters with resale value, in the hope of becoming a club renowned for unearthing gems and playing them (like Dortmund or RB Leipzig), and the next you are saying we cannot challenge the richest 4 “in terms of quality” without spending £500 million. Have Leicester spent £500 million? Or do they not have the quality of the richest 4 clubs despite being in the top 4 this year and narrowly missing out last year? Getting the right players in to a football club - to play in the system or systems that a manager (or series of managers) wants to play - is so much more difficult in reality than it is on Championship Manager (or ToffeeWeb for that matter). We have a manager who can turn the heads of players and agents, we have a new stadium in the pipeline (please God) and we have a man in the biggest seat prepared to spend some money; hopefully they will be wise and lucky with who they bring in this summer.
Martin Berry
27 Posted 13/05/2021 at 16:52:38
I see the right side of the team getting the make over with a full back and right winger likely.
Centre half keeps getting a mention but we seem well covered so unless someone is moving on ?
Midfield we need a strong pacey type with a forward pass in him, Rabiot keeps getting a mention and it appears maybe deal can be done but this depends where Moise Kean ends up.
With the latter being sold along with possibly Bernard, plus several other players out of contract, a fair amount of money will be freed up from transfer/wages so I see where Carlo is coming from with his comments.
Dale Self
28 Posted 13/05/2021 at 17:10:58
I like being the outsider club without as much cash or bourgeois fans as the top four. That's what I signed up for in 95. Carlo is not just our manager but a respectable figure in football who will be asked to weigh in on stuff and will handle that responsibility in a way that will reflect well on Everton. No need to look for something to worry about in what he said, it is actually a positive declaration.
Vijay Nair
29 Posted 14/05/2021 at 10:16:59
Tony (20),

There are rumours linking us to the lad Anguissa from Fulham. He would be a solid addition to our midfield, I reckon.

I think there will be a fair few outgoings this off-season. There are some who have clearly not convinced when given the opportunity and Carlo will be looking to build his own squad.

Lots of fringe players out of contract and a few that we can still hopefully get a fee for, like Delph, Bernard (regrettably), Iwobi, and Gomes. I would even flog Mina off if we are getting a top class central defender in.

Oh and I would keep Kean if he's willing to stay and prove himself. With James pulling the strings in midfield, we could see more from Moise.

Jerome Shields
30 Posted 14/05/2021 at 18:33:35
Ancelotti has to say he does not need to sell players to keep their value up.
Lev Vellene
31 Posted 14/05/2021 at 20:07:22
Oh Lord, next season??? Our blunderers are playing Sheffield Utd next. At Goodison! The mind boggles at even imagining any home win from that complacent lot we have on our books...

Oh well, fingers crossed for the unimaginable!

Justin Doone
32 Posted 15/05/2021 at 21:14:53
Plenty of talent in Championship or recently relegated Premier League teams.

Brooks and another similar would be great. Then we get a top-class right-back who can play and deliver crosses – that'd be a great step forward.

Outgoings... we can argue about a few players but the biggest sellers would be Moise Kean and Mina.

£65M IN and £90M OUT. Not bad.


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