Brands very clear on Everton’s transfer policy

There’s a new sheriff in town at Everton , and he plans on being very clear about his role.

Often when Ronald Koeman spoke it was clear he had very little knowledge of what was going on with players outside of the Everton senior squad. Under Sam Allardyce, things were no different. Even during the spending spree last summer when the Toffees were buying players from all over, it appeared that there was no coherent plan in place especially as the Dutchman complained about not having a striker while we continued to collect #10s like they were going out of fashion under former Director of Football Steve Walsh.

Now with Marcel Brands in charge though, it appears things will be different. In his first official press conference alongside new manager Marco Silva earlier today, he was unequivocal that no players would come in or go unless they both agreed on it.

“We do it together. There is no sense that I try to get a player for Everton the coach doesn’t want.

”He’s got to make the starting XI and that’s not my job. I’ve worked with a lot of good coaches - with Louis van Gaal, with Ronald Koeman, with Phillip Cocu - and I never had one player that we didn’t both agree on.”

Brands was involved in the process of getting Silva to sign on at Everton, and reflected on his meeting with the new manager.

“I had my first meeting with Marco three weeks ago. I was very enthusiastic about that. Then I signed my contract and shortly after that Marco agreed to join me.”

He was asked about a former player of his at PSV Eindhoven, Mexican winger Hirving Lozano, but he laughed off the question.

“The most important thing now is to look at our own squad. We have 38 players so we have to look at what we will do for next season and, of course, we will have a few positions we will look for targets.

”We will sit together in the next few days and look with our scouts at what is the best for Everton.”

This is going to be a particularly tricky transfer market to negotiate with the World Cup this summer, and the window closing before the season starts on August 11th.

“We have a shorter time than normal because the transfer market will close earlier and we have the World Cup, so it will be a very busy time.

“When I started on Friday I was calling agents all day on new players and our own players.

”I think the most important thing now is to sit with Marco and produce our own plans.

”We have to first look at our own squad, with several players who were on loan, a few young players that were on loan. The squad is too big, that’s clear. It’s difficult to work for a coach.

“We have to change that and from one side and the other side we have to fill in a few targets that we think we need.”

He was also asked if he spoke with his countryman Koeman about Everton prior to taking on the role.

“He was very positive about the club. The things that he told me, I’ve only been here a few days and they are absolutely correct.

“He told me it’s a family club with great ambition and possibilities. Okay, we have to work on that. I was not surprised that he told me a lot of good things about the club.”