The first thing to say about Everton’s transfer activity during the summer is that bar Sporting Lisbon youngster Eric Dier’s season-long loan deal way back in July, it was all crammed into a hectic final day. And what a day! Before the analysis starts, it is important to stress that as Evertonian, my response is one of satisfaction at the club’s dealings.
Selling your best players is never good, not for the club and certainly not for the fans. But to be blunt, the sale of Mikel Arteta to Arsenal is not one of those transfers. Ask any Evertonian what they think of Arteta over the last few years and the word ‘frustrated’ will not be far from their thoughts.
Though previously he was a supreme talent at Goodison Park and somebody along with Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar who made Everton into an exciting side to watch, the fact of the matter is that more fans would cite Pienaar as the biggest influence for that. Arteta has been criticised of late for slowing up attacks, making the team play sideways and not being direct enough.
For the last two years, Arteta has been almost completely unable to clear the first man from a corner, nor clear the wall from a free kick. This was tolerable when he would score the odd few and we had no one else, and completely infuriating following the emergence of Leighton Baines.
To receive £10m for a player who was purchased for £2m, has served the club very well and is about to turn 30 is great business, so well done to Kenwright and Moyes. From a fan’s perspective, I genuinely do fear for Arteta going to Arsenal. He is no adequate replacement for Fabregas and may suffer under the spotlight. However, I do hope he succeeds and wish him well.
Shaking up the striking options was always on Moyes’ mind this summer. The sale of Yakubu was inevitable, Blackburn Rovers the eventual destination. To sell a player bought for £11.5m for £1-2m is inevitably going to raise questions, but he had to go, we are happy he has left, so we move on.
Jermain Beckford’s 8 goals in 34 games for Everton last year offered glimpses of talent but his overall contribution was always frustrating, often disillusioning. To get £4m for him from Leicester City is frankly a joke and Moyes rightly bit their hands off.
So the kitty stands at £16m. However much the bank take out of that, there must be a decent amount left for January and that’s okay with me.
The loan purchase of Denis Stracqualursi is an interesting one. Completely unproven in the Premiership of course, but he will come here in confident mood after a 22 goals in 35 games haul last term helped him finish top scorer in Argentina. I am excited to see him play without expecting too much.
Royston’s Drenthe’s arrival from Real Madrid on loan will give Everton options on the left, either as cover for Leighton Baines at left-back or challenge to Diniyar Bilyaletdinov further on. It will also allow Moyes to try Baines in midfield and see how this affects his productivity. A good squad signing.
A side issue that has been somewhat untouched this summer is that Moyes’ ability to retain key players Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Maruoane Fellaini in such dire financial straits is a real plus point for the Scot.
All in all, a good transfer window. We have lost three players we could afford to lose and received around £16m for them. That is excellent business. Hopefully, Arteta’s vacant central midfield role will not only allow youngster Ross Barkley to flourish and play his natural game, but also free the team to be more direct.
Everton still seem short up front and obviously were not able to replace Arteta. I feel the squad is able to cope with this, at the very least until January which Evertonians will now await with excitement for once.
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