Market shakers Everton have stolen a march on the big boys with brilliant early transfer dealings
done much business yet, Chelsea have done nothing, Arsenal too. And they could pay a big price for that.
You look at Everton and they have signed Sandro Ramirez for £5m. That will look a steal for a young striker who has been the star of the Under-21 Euros.
HAPPY is never the right word when it comes to Hillsborough, but I was relieved with the news this week that people will be charged relating to the unlawful deaths of the 96. I don’t want to presume guilt or innocence in any case, but it is right, and just, and important that You could probably say the same about Michael Keane because, if someone pays the £70m Southampton want for Virgil van Dijk, then it will make the Burnley lad’s fee look like value.
I know Everton fans probably won’t accept praise from me, but fair play to them, I have to hold my hands up and say they have done well. They will have signed six new players before they report back for training – and that is impressive work for anyone.
Kenwright has always been a decent football man – I get along great with him, despite my Liverpool links!
He has done well in the transfer market for the Blues for years, going back to getting players such as Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill and, of course, Lukaku, even if he did not always get the credit that he deserved. They used to be seat-of-the-pants stuff, though, because they didn’t have any money. Now they’ve got
a bit of cash the roles of those involved in those deaths are examined in the courts. For so long, there was an attempt to sweep it all under the carpet, but the reality is that the campaign for justice was brought to change things and make people accountable.
It cannot bring back those who died, but it can from the new owner, they have been wise and spent it well.
As much as it pains me to say it, they have strengthened their squad well and can improve next season.
I hope Liverpool follow suit. For me, they seem to be concentrating on getting in that bit of extra quality in crucial positions – and that is the right p o l i c y , rather than splashing their cash on six or eight players, like they seem to have done during the last few years.
If they have to spend £150-180m to get three top-class players, it will be money well spent.
I look at their team of last year and think that, if they had one or two more to provide some more attacking options when Sadio Mane was at the Africa Cup of Nations and Philippe Coutinho was injured, then they would have been in the title shake-up.
That is a lesson Jurgen Klopp learned, so I’m not too worried that they have only signed Mohamed Salah so far.
But I hope they have not been caught cold by Everton, who have done most of their business and are going to set the transfer market alight when they sell Lukaku.
That will affect Arsenal and Chelsea – and even City and United – more because they all want strikers and it will cost them fortunes. Someone like Alexandre Lacazette, for instance, how much is he going to cost, if Kylian Mbappe goes for £120m?
So – and, no, I’m not having to say these words through gritted teeth – well done to Everton.
It will be good to see two powerful teams on Merseyside next season.
Doing business early this season wise, is not only but vital
ensure they did not die in vain, and others will not suffer the same fate. So charges are important.
Looking at what happened at Grenfell Towers, the idea of accountability is hugely important and I am glad we have finally reached this point with Hillsborough... even if it is 28 years too late.