Toffees’ spending rivals Reds... but bought only pain

THE FULL scale of Everton’s disastrous transfer-market performance in the era since Jurgen Klopp took charge of Liverpool might be a secondary issue for nervous Toffee fans this afternoon.

But ahead of the Merseyside derby at Anfield it’s a major reason Klopp’s stars are chasing a Quadruple while Everton are facing relegation.

When Klopp succeeded Brendan Rodgers in October 2015 Everton were a point above their red rivals in seventh place in the table.

Fast forward six and a half years and Everton hover over the trap door to the Championship.

Liverpool’s record in 13 transfer windows during Klopp’s Anfield reign has been spectacular.

Everton’s has been shockingly bad.

But the most damning aspect of all is that the Goodison club have spent almost as much.

Klopp’s outlay of £605.25million on players since his arrival has brought glittering success, with dream football triggering a Premier League crown, a Champions League triumph and this season’s Carabao Cup, as well as a FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

In the same period Everton – under six different managers – have spent a staggering £584.38 million.

Of the 14 players who starred in Liverpool’s 4-0 destruction of Manchester United, only skipper Jordan Henderson and academy product Trent Alexanderarnold were NOT recruited by Klopp.

All the rest, including key stars Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Thiago and keeper Alisson were brought in through the transfer market.

Across the City, new Goodison boss Frank Lampard has inherited a disjointed squad put together by managers who have long gone. Just a glimpse at some of the flops who failed to make an impact despite arriving in big deals is enough to make any Evertonian wince.

Few sum up the Toffees’ poor recruitment policy better than Ivorian defensive midfielder Jean-philippe Gbamin.

The 26-year-old arrived from German side Mainz O5 in 2019 in a £23million deal, as a replacement for the Paris Saintgermain-bound Idrissa Gueye.

Gbamin, below, left for a loan spell at CSKA Moscow in February, having started only two League games in his three seasons.

There are more like him. In 2017, midfielder Davy Klaassen arrived from Ajax in a £24.3m deal with a decent reputation – and left a year later for half the money.

Promising Juventus striker Moise Kean cost £24.5m when Marco Silva signed him in 2019.

But after two goals in 33 appearances he was shipped out on loan to PSG in 2020, and is now back at Juve, on another loan deal, and scoring goals for Italy. Former Southampton and Manchester United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin (£20.7m, later sold for huge loss), one-time Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie (£22.5m, released), and Turkish striker Cenk Tosun (£21.2m) are all examples of players who failed to give value.

While Klopp and Liverpool do their homework through a tried and trusted process and rarely have a fail, Everton can’t seem to get it right.

The Toffees parted company with Dutch director of football Marcel Brands in December and have now appointed Kevin Thelwell, former sporting director at Wolves and director of football at New York Red Bulls.

And if they survive this season’s relegation fight, their fans must hope Thelwell can create a structure that will end nearly a decade of moneywasting madness.