According to a source cited by The iNews, if Everton are found to have breached spending rules, a transfer embargo and heavy fines are considered the most probable outcomes, rather than a points deduction, relays the GN.
It is unlikely that any consequences would affect the current season, as the club is currently fighting relegation. The severity of Everton’s situation will become clearer when their latest financial accounts are released on Friday (March 31), which prompted the Premier League to take action. However, the length of time under scrutiny is not expected to be as extensive as Manchester City’s extensive list of charges.
A source said: “One source i spoke to felt that the most likely scenario if they were found to have breached the Premier League rules is that there would be some form of cost controls placed on the club, such as an enforced transfer embargo, as well as heavy fines.
“Given the time that will be granted to the club to put together a defence of the case it is unlikely that any punishment will have an impact on this season, although given that it is a single breach – rather than the hundreds being dealt with in the Manchester City case – the commission should be convened within months rather than years.”
The Premier League and Everton were said to be working closely together to control costs in order to avoid breaching spending rules, which the club has been struggling with through two relegation battles. Everton only spent £2 million on Demarai Gray before last season and funded the signings of Vitalii Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson in January by selling Lucas Digne to Aston Villa.
While some fans may question the boardroom’s decision-making, the club did not become frugal without reason, as they sold Richarlison to Tottenham for £60 million before the end of the accounting period to satisfy profit and sustainability considerations, even though he played a significant role in keeping the club in the Premier League and has yet to be properly replaced.
Despite reduced and staggered spending in the transfer market, attacking assets have been sold off under Rafael Benitez, Frank Lampard, and now Sean Dyche. Fans may wonder what the point was, even though transfers are not the only relevant factor. Many fans and perhaps Dyche himself will scoff at the idea of a transfer embargo when the club voluntarily imposed one on itself in the January window, with no new attacking recruits brought in despite the squad’s need for reinforcements.