The Everton fans in the Football Transfer Tavern have seen a few bargain-buys over the last few years…
Everton are a club that have built their foundations on finding young, talented players and turning them into European superstars in recent years.
Ronald Koeman has continued that process this year, with the introduction of young Mason Holgate – and he looks set to become another star to make it into the first team at Goodison Park.
It has become quite a habit over the last decade, with a host of players coming into the club for next to nothing; only to become world beaters just a few years later.
With that said, these 3 are the best Everton bargain-buys of the last 10 years – do you agree?
Leighton Baines
No player over the last few years has become more synonymous at Everton than Leighton Baines.
The Englishman has cemented his role as one of England’s top full-backs, and in his near-decade long run at Goodison Park he has endeared himself to the Everton fans in the Football Transfer Tavern.
At 31-years-old, Baines is nearing the end of his career – but he still continues to impress week-in-week-out.
Signed for just over £6m – now a club legend.
Seamus Coleman
Nobody screams bargain-buy more than Seamus Coleman.
Signed in 2009 for an unbelievable £60,000 – Coleman cost less than some of the Premier League’s best players earn in a single day.
In a near 7 year stint with the club, Coleman has made close to 200 appearances – and seems to get better every single year.
He has been a mainstay in the yearly Football Transfer Tavern team of the year over the last few seasons; and that will no doubt continue this year.
He is a consistent performer, and for just £60,000 he represents unbelievable value.
John Stones
Whilst John Stones’ career at Everton was relatively short, there is no doubting that he was one of the biggest bargain-buys in recent memory.
Signed for less than £3m, Stones would soon establish himself as Everton’s most intuitive centre-half – quickly rising through the ranks before an England call-up last season.
His short stint at the club would have been enough to grant him a spot on this list; but what came after is what places him alongside the likes of Seamus Coleman.
After a relatively disappointing season last year, Stones was sold for close to £50m – an unfathomable sum of money, especially when you consider the original outlay.
The money generated from his sale will be sufficient to build the next generation of Everton bargains.
