Everton’s financial failures of the past decade truly came back to haunt them this season, as they were dealt numerous setbacks in their efforts to avoid the drop.
Somehow, Sean Dyche still navigated them to safety, but it was not without the Premier League trying to curtail them at every corner.
Having already forced them to offload their top talent, and likely expected to make them do it again, the Toffees are far from out of the woods.
The progression of one of their recent sales is just indicative of how badly they have been conned by their own division.
Everton forced to sell to ease PSR
Ever since their steady regression down the Premier League table, the financial implications of their ambition and subsequent failure have been apparent.
This was no greater exemplified throughout this campaign, in which PSR lobbied to snag a total of 17 points from Everton across two separate deductions.
An independent panel would eventually settle on eight, and in the end, neither sanctions would have been enough to relegate the tough and stubborn Toffees.
However, this summer promises to be another of mass overhaul, with the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana just two who might have to be sold.
They would follow in the footsteps of Richarlison and Anthony Gordon, the latter of which is now reportedly valued at an astronomical fee.
The Daily Star, when noting Liverpool’s reported interest, write: ‘It would take an offer of close to £100m from the Reds to seriously test Newcastle’s resolve to keep hold of the influential playmaker.’
Anthony Gordon has flourished at Newcastle United
There were always signs that Gordon had quality, but he showed it far too infrequently for him to be anything more than a solid player for Everton.
So, when the Magpies came calling to the tune of £45m, it was a figure the club simply could not deny given their PSR woes.
Few would have expected him to become such an integral figure for them so soon, and despite an initially torrid first six months, he has now won their Player of the Season award, having scored ten and assisted a further ten in the Premier League this season.
His progression simply must be lauded, even if he is still very much a maligned figure on Merseyside due to the manner of his exit.
Many paint the picture that he was forced out of Everton by a huge crowd of angry supporters, when in reality it was a select few disgracing the entire fanbase.
That was not why Gordon left his boyhood club which had given him everything, and that forced narrative is one of the many reasons why his exit, and subsequent success, stings amongst Evertonians.
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