Are Everton player transfer deals still being held up by the Board?

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright is still heavily involved in the club’s transfer dealings despite the change of ownership last season. This probably comes as no surprise to anyone who has lived through the glacial pace of signings that the Toffees have become famous for.

In this age of social media, information spreads like wildfire and knowledge of a club’s transfer dealings is usually widely known well before the customary picture of the player signing a contract and holding up a team shirt is officially released. Despite that, it does appear that the Blues seem to take an inordinately long time to finalize a transfer, to the extent that fans are reduced to pleading on Twitter for the club to announce the signing, and even to say ‘Next!’ when one is formally proclaimed.

The Telegraph’s David Conn raised the curtain on some of the inner workings at Everton in an investigative piece published today, and one of the biggest statements in his article is the observation that Kenwright continues to broker transfers.

“Kenwright, who has stayed on as chairman after selling half his 26% stake to Moshiri, is continuing to negotiate the deals to sign players.”

The Board, and the chairman as an extension, have often been criticized for the amount of ‘blue tape’ going on at Goodison Park. There was sincere hope that with new majority owner Farhad Moshiri taking over, transfers would be expedited but it appears not to be the case.

Everton’s dilly-dallying was widely blamed for the failure during the summer window to bring in players that fit manager Ronald Koeman’s vision for the team. The Blues were linked with multiple players with most coming to nought, and most famously Moussa Sissoko choosing to go to Tottenham Hotspur on deadline day instead.

During the current January transfer window, even Koeman has vocalized his frustration at the delays in getting players that Director of Football Steve Walsh and he have identified as requirements for the Toffees to climb back into European football.

Now it appears fans should not be surprised that Everton have still only signed two players with deadline day less than a week away, after the Dutchman had said in the past that he will looking to add five or six players to his senior squad.

Moshiri was widely reported to have been furious with the transfer window fiasco over the summer, and had said that mistakes like that would not be repeated. Now it’s looking like we’re shamefully headed for the same old situation once again this January.