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Brands Outlines Summer Transfer Plans
Everton’s Director of Football Marcel Brands has revealed the club’s transfer plans in an interview with a Dutch Media outlet. Despite lots of rumours stating that Everton would go on a summer spending spree to back new manager Carlo Ancelotti, Brands has tempered those expectations by saying that is not the plan for the club.
Speaking to De Telegraaf, Brands said:
“It won’t be a big-spending summer.
“It’s not a question of ownership or wealth. As a club, you have to deal with the financial parameters of the Premier League.
“An owner can’t say I’m doing 50 or 100 million extra. It’s about the budget. You also have to deal with Financial Fair Play when it comes to investments. We’re in the final phase of renewing the selection. We’re trying to sell some players from the past with less perspective for Everton.
“A lot has changed already. We didn’t plan a transfer window this summer with five or six major purchases. We want to strengthen the team in two or three positions and have no extreme wishes. We are no longer in the phase of crazy names.
“Carlo Ancelotti and the owner are behind it. We have a trainer who knows the way to success. Now it’s just corona improvising. In the end, all efforts must lead to sporting success.”
Brands also spoke about his relationship with Carlo Ancelotti and even admitted to a few reservations about the Italian due to his previous experiences managing the likes of Real Madrid, Milan and Chelsea etc. Brands revealed:
“He’s a wonderful man.”
“I have previously worked with interesting and very experienced trainers, such as Martin Jol, Louis van Gaal and Dick Advocaat. Carlo is also such a coach.
“You’re talking about the currants in the porridge of top football. Carlo has won everything there is to win.
“Before he signed, I had conversations with him, and I was a little conservative. I knew where he’d worked and what purchases he’d made before.
“How’s he doing with Everton? Does he think he can do the same here? We don’t have that kind of ability.
“But he was behind the whole project from day one. He wants to help build. It’s a little different than he did before.”
Although this may disappoint some fans who had been dreaming of big summer signings, it should be encouraging to hear that Marcel Brands and Carlo Ancelotti are on the same page in terms of improving and building the club. Brands has experience of building winning sides in Holland and Everton will be hoping he can replicate that in England.