Everton FC – A Window of Opportunity

The January transfer window is traditionally a quiet time for Everton. The Toffees are not known for their extravagant winter signings and generally spend the month looking to move fringe players on or perhaps bring in the odd loan signing.

Even though the window officially opens on 1st of January, it’s unlikely any transfers get announced before Tuesday the 3rd, which is the first business day of the new year.

The winter window is known for being a difficult time to bring players in, certainly for reasonable transfer fees. Selling clubs are either wary of letting key players go mid-season or keen to exploit the desperation of buying clubs frantically looking to bolster their squads.

The Toffees have never had a significant budget to play with during January so therefore have generally steered clear of any bidding wars.

This January however could be very different.

Farhad Moshiri’s investment means Everton have significant funds to play with over the next four weeks.

But perhaps more importantly they have the scouting and recruiting team in place by which to bring these players in.

Last summer’s failures in the transfer market can be partly attributed to the late arrival of both Ronald Koeman and, crucially, Steve Walsh.

Walsh was only appointed in July, leaving him a little over six weeks to try and strengthen the squad.

Although around £50m was splashed out on the likes of Yannick Bolasie and Ashley Williams, the club also missed out on several transfer targets that left Koeman’s squad looking perilously thin in places heading into the autumn.

Those transfer mistakes have certainly cost the side so far this season, with the team going 10 games without a win at one stage between September and December.

It is vital those mistakes are corrected this month if Everton are to compete at the right end of the table this campaign.

The window will close on 31st January at 11pm, and fans will be hoping that the Toffees have all their business well and truly done before that cutoff.

Away from new signings we are also hopeful of hearing a significant update regarding Everton’s new stadium.

The annual general meeting (AGM) is scheduled for the evening of January 4th and any significant development regarding the new ground would likely be published prior to the meeting.

Tangible progress towards a new stadium would arguably be more important than any big-money signing.

Goodison Park is much loved but it’s limitations are obvious and a new stadium is required if they club are ever to truly compete with the established sides at the top of the table.

For the first time in a generation is seems like we have an owner with the ambition, vision and (crucially) the resources to improve Everton on and off the pitch.

We are well used to disappointments and let downs so I’m wary of getting ahead of myself. However, it’s not unreasonable to suggest the next month could be one of the most significant in the club’s 139-year history.