Everton: Premier League blamed as Abdoulaye Doucoure should go away in January switch window

Martin Samuel has criticised the Premier League’s income and sustainability policies for leaving Everton at risk of dropping Abdoulaye Doucouré to Saudi Arabia.

The Times journalist satirically suggested via the paper’s internet site on 23 January that it was “good news” for the Toffees megastar to now be a goal for Al-Ettifaq in the January transfer window, after Fabrizio Romano reported an strategy on 20 January.

With Everton having simply received a 2d referral for a spending breach Samuel claimed that has left them “vulnerable” to losing the Malian midfielder if a Saudi bid arrives, as “profit enthusiasts” now have fun “spotless” balance sheets instead than trophies.

Samuel wrote: “In other precise news, the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules have left Everton vulnerable to a bid for Abdoulaye Doucouré from Al-Ettifaq of Saudi Arabia.

“Profit lovers — due to the fact let’s no longer faux Premier League football isn’t sustainable — will no doubt be lining the streets when our golf equipment parade their spotless stability sheets on an open-top bus. After all, that’s what the recreation is about.”

Priorities

There is nothing incorrect with spotless balance sheets in principle but it surely is a bit rich for the Premier League to have modified their tune on the concern after many years of largesse made it the monetary behemoth that it is without a word from the league office.

It is not possible to argue that Everton haven’t been their very own worst enemies a lot of the time when those in charge have made so many terrible selections over latest years.

But the concept that a Toffees side which has already been pressured to spend very little over successive switch home windows while selling pricey stars like Richarlison and Anthony Gordon now losing another key player midseason, when they are facing the hazard of a second factors deduction, is proof of a system of governance working particularly nicely doesn’t seem to stand up when the sanctions at Everton are unique.

Perhaps over the coming season the chickens will all be coming home to roost up and down the league, however while Nottingham Forest have now received a referral, Manchester City have denied over a hundred instances except a listening to even being held yet, and there is an ongoing investigation at Chelsea, the motion taken in opposition to the Toffees feels punitive.

Maybe it isn’t and the common sense of Richard Masters and employer is absolutely sound and will eventually be evenly utilized across the board.

But at Goodison Park it appears that as fast as the Everton group overcome one obstacle, self-inflicted or otherwise, there is always a new one ready to be planted in their way.