- Sources close to the club insist that talk of a ‘fire sale’ at Goodison Park is nonsense
- While they will have to sell at least one player, they will not change their valuations.
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Everton will not be intimidated into selling their key players for cut-price prices this summer as other Premier League clubs sense an opportunity to negotiate after the Toffees’ well-documented financial problems.
There has been much talk of a “fire sale” at Goodison Park this summer, but sources close to the club insist it is nonsense.
Although Everton will realistically have to sell at least one of their key assets, they will not budge on their key man valuations.
sport mail The club is understood to have opened talks with star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin amid interest from clubs across Europe, with Newcastle said to be keeping an eye on his situation. The forward’s contract expires next summer, but Everton will fight to retain him.
Calvert-Lewin has not given the club any indication that he wants to leave this summer. Jarrad Branthwaite is another who has consistently been linked with a departure, but Everton will try to persuade the English defender to stay for at least another year.
Everton will not be intimidated into selling their key players at cut-price prices this summer
Jarrad Branthwaite (left) is valued at £90m, while Amadou Onana (right) has also been touted for a move, but he won’t be sold cheaply.
The club are understood to value Branthwaite at a price of £90m. The club has kept an eye on the market in recent years, with the likes of Josko Gvardiol, Harry Maguire and Wesley Fofana moving for more than £70m.
Branthwaite, 21, is also young, left-footed and English, which sources close to Everton say only increases his market value.
Midfielder Amadou Onana has also been tipped to move away and is more likely to leave, but again, he won’t be sold for cheap.
Manchester United were interested in the Belgian midfielder last summer, but opted to sign Sofyan Amrabat.
Everton saw the £58m fee Chelsea paid for Romeo Lavia and would demand a similar or higher figure.
But while Everton will remain firm in their valuations and will not be forced into a ‘fire sale’, there is recognition within the club that at least one player must be sold this summer.
Director of football Kevin Thelwell admitted as much last month in his end-of-season program notes. The Toffees had two points deductions last season and posted a loss of £89.1m in their latest accounts.
While there remains uncertainty surrounding Farhad Moshiri’s attempted sale of Everton, the club’s hierarchy believe they are heading towards a more financially stable position.
However, Everton will have to be cautious about their income. Leeds winger Jack Harrison is keen to return to the club after a successful loan spell last season, and has a clause in his contract allowing him to do so. Midfielder Kalvin Phillips is also being monitored for his loan.
Everton have started talks with star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin (right) over a new deal
Sources close to the club insist that talk of a “fire sale” at Goodison Park this summer is nonsense. Everton owner Farhad Moshiri appears in the photo.
The former West Ham loanee, who was excluded from England’s Euro squad, would likely replace Onana if he left, although City are pushing for a permanent transfer rather than a loan, which could put off Everton.
Fiorentina midfielder Arthur Melo, Burnley defender Maxime Esteve and Fortuna Dusseldorf’s Ao Tanaka have all been linked to the club in recent weeks, but those deals are unlikely to happen.
