Everton news: Kieran Maguire on finances and transfers

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire spoke to BBC Radio Merseyside on Everton’s financial situation for the transfer window.

“I think Everton have to box clever,” Maguire said. “I imagine Evertonians will be slightly frustrated because moving to this magnificent new stadium, it would be great to have a significant number of stellar signings.

“I still think Everton have the capacity to make one statement signing. A player of £40 to £50m, that’s certainly within their capabilities but I think they will also have to be dealing with getting a few players off the payroll on the 30th of June when contracts expire, and using the exit door smartly to allow them to invest in the future.

“It’s always a balancing act. Liverpool did it really well with the sale of Philippe Coutinho and they used that sale to build the spine of the side with the recruitment of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson.

“If the club were to make a major sale, the fanbase would expect that to be invested in players who can make an immediate difference, and therefore players that have an element of experience at a reasonable level of football.”