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Breaking news: Gary Lineker can’t believe ‘ludicrous’ Everton…

Published by Gabriel Shiel on August 12th, 2024.

Gary Lineker has condemned the deal for Aston Villa to loan striker Lewis Dobbin to West Brom after signing him from Everton earlier this summer, in an attack on the “ludicrous” transfer window.

But the Toffees simply cannot be blamed for exploiting a loophole within the Premier League’s PSR system after it derailed their season last term.

The pundit spoke about the move on The Rest Is Football podcast [9 August, 25m 35s], when questioned on the ethicality of Premier League sides selling their academy talent to bypass Profit and Sustainability rules.

Everton sold Dobbin to Villa and gained Tim Iroegbunam in the deal. The 21-year-old has been excellent for the Blues in pre-season, and the signing has proven to benefit the club’s PSR standing and also provide Sean Dyche with a capable addition to his midfield ranks.

Discussing the transfer merry-good-round, Lineker said: “I’ve just seen that Lewis Dobbin, who Villa signed for £19m earlier this window from Everton as part of a merry-go-round, has been loaned to West Brom. It kind of highlights the fact that it’s a bit ludicrous.”

Everton cannot be blamed for PSR loophole and Lewis Dobbin loan

Dyche would have guided his side to an 11th-placed finish in the league had it not been for two separate points deductions, amounting to eight points in total docked by the Premier League for breaching PSR, but they ultimately finished fifteenth.

Everton, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Chelsea were involved in the flurry of transfer activity ahead of the 30 June deadline, and the deal to sell Dobbin to Villa helped save the side from further sanctions.

The latter have since continued their ridiculous spending spree under Todd Boehly and recently confirmed the signing of Pedro Neto from Wolves for their ninth signing of the window.

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Neto signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge. Those long-terms contracts are another loophole in the PSR system, of course, as the transfer fee can be spread over a number of years.

Everton are not blessed with such finances, with Farhad Moshiri still intent on selling the club, and the £50m raised from the sale of Amadou Onana is only a short-term solution to their ongoing financial woes.

Villa deciding to loan Dobbin out for the season is beyond the Toffee’s control. Dyche has found a place for Iroegbunam in his side and has seemingly got the better end of the deal.

The Blues have become a victim of PSR on far too many occasions in the past 12 months, so if Everton can find any way to ease their worries and abide by the rules, they should take it.

Especially when a side like Chelsea, also under the scope of PSR, are continuing to spend like the money will never dry out.

In other Everton news, an attacking player is open to joining the Toffees before the transfer window closes.

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