David Moyes has expressed surprise at the extent of the financial restrictions imposed on Everton but is closing in on the first signing of his second spell in charge, a loan deal for the Flamengo midfielder Carlos Alcaraz.
Everton have money to spend this month after the Friedkin Group’s takeover and were recently declared compliant with Premier League profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) up to the 2023-24 season. But the club remain limited by PSR calculations for this financial year and are unlikely to feel the full benefits of the takeover until the summer.
Moyes has been trying to strengthen his squad since returning as Everton manager three weeks ago but Alcaraz is the closest he has come to getting a deal over the line. The 22-year-old is due to undergo a medical with Everton before a proposed loan with a view to a permanent transfer.
The midfielder started the season at Southampton and appeared as a substitute in their opening-day defeat at Newcastle before joining Flamengo for a club record €18m. As the Brazilian season overlaps with a Premier League campaign, and has now ended, he is eligible to play for a third club this campaign. Everton’s need for reinforcements has increased with the midfielder Orel Mangala out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury and Dominic Calvert-Lewin sidelined for the long-term by a hamstring problem.
“It’s certainly not for the want of trying,” said Moyes on the lack of signings. “Undoubtedly we’re still hampered with PSR. I’m really jealous of watching a lot of teams who can attempt to go for players at expensive prices. At the moment, we’re not quite there but we don’t want to get ourselves in a position we’ve been in before with points deductions so we have to be really mindful of what we do. We hope to bring in some players but maybe it’s not the ones who, if we really had the money, we’d be trying to do.”
The Everton manager admits the PSR challenges have increased his admiration for the business conducted by his predecessor, Sean Dyche, and director of football, Kevin Thelwell, to keep the club afloat in the Premier League in recent seasons. “I’ve been really surprised at the way it’s restricting the football club,” Moyes added. “Everton’s a huge football club and should be competing with many of the big clubs in the country and hopefully spending in a way where it’s right and challenging for the big players who are available.
“There’s not that many in January, to be honest, but the PSR is hindering us. I think I can see now why the last few years at Everton have been so difficult. The people who’ve had to work under the restrictions have done a remarkable job.”
Moyes is also trying to make a permanent signing before Monday’s transfer deadline. Mangala is expected to return to his parent club, Lyon, freeing up the loan option for Alcaraz, while Armando Broja could stay at Everton as his ankle ligament injury is not as bad as first suspected. The striker is facing six weeks on the sidelines rather than 10-12.
Everton have won their last two league games and a third, against relegation rivals Leicester on Saturday, could have far-reaching implications according to Moyes. The Everton manager explained: “I think three points would be crucial for us. We’ve got a lot of boys out of contract this summer, maybe waiting to see the position we’re in. It might allow us to start planning if people see that it looks as if we’re going to be a Premier League team.
“While we’re in this position it’s very difficult to make plans or try to put plans in place. A win tomorrow would be really important for us as a team and a club.”
