🧾View: Romano update shows how Everton can flourish in new market access after TFG takeover

Everton can enjoy access to a whole new market in which they never previously had direct links following the takeover of The Friedkin Group.

With Dan Friedkin’s ownership of Roma – one of Italy’s most established and historic institutions – the Serie A and wider Italian market can now be the Toffees’ oyster moving forward.

As explained by Fabrizio Romano [25 December], the club are already exploring the possibility of several Serie A stars with potential funds available to Sean Dyche and the recruitment staff for January [TEAMtalk, 11 December].


Not only can Everton enjoy a close working relationship with Roma themselves – of course within the boundaries of linked or ‘sister’ club working regulations – but the wider avenues to Serie A recruitment have been opened up significantly by the change in ownership.

Where could Everton strengthen in January?

While no specific names have been mentioned by Romano or any other reporters at this stage, it is clear that Friedkin has steered at least some of Everton’s transfer focus towards the Italian market.

It would be ridiculous not to with the wealth of knowledge of Italian football, the contacts and the working rapport between the Toffees’ new board and the upper echelons of Serie A.

Despite Dyche returning his side to that resolute, sturdy defensive unit we all saw towards the end of last season, emphasising the stability for which Friedkin places faith in his manager, the glaring disadvantage is the struggle to score goals.

Dwight McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye – with three goals apiece – joint-lead the club’s Premier League scoring chart heading into the turn of the year; Dominic Calvert-Lewin amid all his uncertainty has just two, alongside centre-half Michael Keane. There are three players with a single league goal.

With strong links away for both Calvert-Lewin and fellow striker Beto in January, there are bound to be multiple irons in the fire and you would be far from surprised to see a transaction take place from an Italian club.

Interestingly, the club’s relationship with John Textor – who was at one stage a frontrunner to complete a takeover himself – had seen summer deals take place with French club Lyon, who are part of his own empire. They could repeat the feat in January, seeking forward Georges Mikautadze, who starred at Euro 2024 for Georgia [Foot Mercato, 26 December].

It only serves to demonstrate the power of ‘who you know’ in football, and how Everton could be strong beneficiaries moving forward.

MSNfootballNews

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