Everton are the only Premier League team who failed to sign a player in the January transfer window – with several players turning them down throughout the month.
Everton took their time in employing a successor before deciding on former Burnley manager Sean Dyche to get them out of relegation trouble.
Dyche isn’t a miracle worker, though. He’s walked into a mess at Goodison Park with no reinforcements following him through the door.
Their lack of transfer activity isn’t down to a lack of trying. Within 30 minutes of Dyche’s official appointment, Everton had made a £45 million bid for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher. Dyche viewed the 22-year-old as an ideal signing to kick off a new era on Merseyside.
What he didn’t bank on was Gallagher’s refusal to swap Chelsea for Everton.
The England international, who spent last season on loan at Crystal Palace, isn’t interested in leaving Stamford Bridge unless he’s surplus to requirements under Graham Potter.
So, that’s Monday out of the way. What did deadline day bring? More misery if you’re an Everton supporter.
Andre Ayew, Ismaila Sarr and Olivier Giroud were all linked with a move to Everton but none completed a move for a factor of reasons.
When that failed, they turned their attention to Sarr, who is playing his trade in the Championship with Watford. Everton wanted to pay £2 million to loan the winger for the rest of the season according to The Athletic, with a £30 million buy option included.
Watford turned that deal down as they’re adamant about keeping him for their playoff push. So that’s three players in the space of two days.
One final, and most ambitious, role of the dice came in the form of Giroud. Yes, that one. Everton offered Giroud a whopping to keep them up according to CalcioMercato. Giroud rejected it. Not a shock, considering he won Serie A with AC Milan in May.
All of this isn’t taking into account Anthony Gordon’s departure to Newcastle United over the weekend. That money’s not been reinvested into the squad at all.
Everton return to action against league leaders Arsenal on February 4. At least it’s an easy game to ease Dyche back into management after nine months away…
