Chaos reigns at Everton

[Getty Images] As timelines go, turbulent doesn't really do justice to the final days of Everton's transfer window. First, Everton CEO Angus Kinnear declared in an interview with BBC Radio Merseyside on 18 August that the club were in a stable financial position heading towards the end of the transfer window. Two weeks later, and with just two days of the transfer window remaining, the club accepted a £40m bid from Nottingham Forest for highly rated academy graduate Harrison Armstrong, a move that collapsed following fan backlash. The chaotic approach continued long into deadline day. Right-back Nathan Patterson, midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, striker Beto and star winger Iliman Ndiaye were all allowed to leave the club. While Patterson and Ndiaye were replaced by Lyon defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish respectively, a £40m deal for Monaco forward Folarin Balogun collapsed. The USA international walked away at the 11th hour despite a deal sheet being submitted amid last-gasp interest in Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee and Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham. The net result is that a squad that manager David Moyes desperately wanted strengthening heads into the third game of the season at home to the Red Devils with one striker, one right-back and one left-back. Kinnear had spoken of a two-year recruitment plan following the takeover by the Friedkin Group in December 2024. Everton have brought in some promising younger players but their net spend in this window stands at £25.35m of profit. They end it in an arguably weaker position than when it opened nine weeks ago. [BBC]