Everton manager David Moyes has revealed he has no direct contact with the club's principal owner, Dan Friedkin, following a challenging summer transfer window. The admission, reported by the Daily Mirror, comes as the Toffees submitted a Premier League squad list containing just 19 senior players.
What did David Moyes say about the owners?
David Moyes made his comments in a press conference ahead of Sunday's match against Manchester United. According to the Liverpool Echo, he stated his main point of contact is chief executive Angus Kinnear, followed by Friedkin Group representative Rishi Majithia. "I don’t really get any direct conversations with them," Moyes said of the ownership group. He described the final days of the window as difficult, with a £40 million move for Monaco striker Folarin Balogun collapsing after the player had arrived at the training ground. Moyes added that bids for other forwards like Joshua Zirkzee and Tammy Abraham also failed, leaving Thierno Barry as the only senior striker. The sale of Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City for £65 million further reduced the squad's depth.
How does the squad look for the Manchester United game?
Everton host Manchester United this weekend with a threadbare group. The club's official squad list shows only 19 registered senior players, six short of the maximum allowed. Sports.yahoo.com's preview notes midfielder Christian Norgaard is the only likely absentee through injury. The predicted lineup includes Jack Grealish, who returned on loan from Manchester City. James Tarkowski, who scored a late equaliser against Bournemouth, is expected to start in defence. Everton are eighth in the Premier League with four points from two games, having scored three goals and conceded one. You can view the full standings for context.
Why is Everton's squad so small?
The club submitted its 25-man Premier League list with only 19 names, as detailed by Royal Blue Mersey. This includes four goalkeepers, with 13 of the 19 players qualifying as homegrown. Youngsters like Harrison Armstrong, Tyler Dibling, and Tyrique George are on the separate Under-21 list and are eligible to play. The limited size is a direct result of the transfer window's activity. Player sales, including Beto to Fiorentina and Ndiaye to Manchester City, were not adequately replaced. The failed pursuit of a striker left the attacking department particularly light.
Are the Friedkin Group looking to sell?
A report from the Financial Times, cited by Sports Business Journal, indicates The Friedkin Group is seeking new investors for Everton. This process is said to be at an early stage and could involve selling a significant stake in the club. The group bought Everton less than two years ago. The search comes after a window where Everton's net spend was negative, raising around $149.9 million from sales while spending about $119.7 million. The club's next challenge is an away trip to face Tottenham on September 12th, a fixture you can find on our fixtures page.
