David Moyes has expressed his surprise at the extent of the financial restrictions imposed on Everton and admitted jealousy over the spending power of rival Premier League clubs.
Everton have money to spend this month after the The Friedkin Group’s takeover and were recently declared compliant with Premier League profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) up to the 2023-24 season. But the club remain limited by PSR calculations for this financial year and are unlikely to feel the full benefits of the takeover until the summer.
Related: Men’s transfer window January 2025: all deals from Europe’s top five leagues
Moyes has been trying to strengthen his squad since returning as Everton manager three weeks ago but is yet to get a deal over the line. The need for reinforcements has increased with Orel Mangala out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury and Dominic Calvert-Lewin sidelined for the long-term by a hamstring problem.
“It’s certainly not for the want of trying,” said Moyes on the lack of signings. “Undoubtedly we’re still hampered with PSR. I’m really jealous of watching a lot of teams who can attempt to go for players at expensive prices. At the moment, we’re not quite there but we don’t want to get ourselves in a position we’ve been in before with points deductions so we have to be really mindful of what we do. We hope to bring in some players but maybe it’s not the ones who, if we really had the money, we’d be trying to do.”
The Everton manager admits the PSR challenges have increased his admiration for the business conducted by his predecessor, Sean Dyche, and director of football, Kevin Thelwell, to keep the club afloat in the Premier League in recent seasons. “I’ve been really surprised at the way it’s restricting the football club,” Moyes added. “Everton’s a huge football club and should be competing with many of the big clubs in the country and hopefully spending in a way where it’s right and challenging for the big players who are available.
“There’s not that many in January, to be honest, but the PSR is hindering us. I think I can see now why the last few years at Everton have been so difficult. The people who’ve had to work under the restrictions have done a remarkable job.”
