Everton are reportedly aiming to raid another Premier League club, Watford, for winger Richarlison and midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Ever since Farhad Moshiri became Everton’s majority shareholder in 2016 and released them from the financial shackles, the so-called ‘People’s Club’ appears to have lost any sense of value.
The last few transfer windows have been filled with overpriced, overrated signings from Davy Klaassen at £23 million, Morgan Schneiderlin at £24 million, Yannick Bolasie at £28 million, Michael Keane at £30 million and Gylfi Sigurdsson who, despite showing flashes of class, is yet to live up to his £45 million price-tag.
Now, Everton are set to smash their transfer record again to sign Richarlison from Watford for a remarkable £50 million, according to the BBC. The 21-year-old Brazilian is a promising talent but he remains erratic, frustrating and without a goal since November.
And, should Everton step up their pursuit of his Watford teammate Abdoulaye Doucoure, they could be at risk of being robbed once again. RMC Sport claimed that the Merseysiders had a £22 million bid rejected in July.
talkSPORT claim that they are still interested. And, if Watford are demanding £50 million for Richarlison, you can guarantee they would want a huge fee for their influential French midfielder, too.
But Everton should not lose sense of perspective. Doucoure might have impressed in the Premier League last season but whether he is good enough for a club with genuine European ambitious remains to be seen.
Moshiri cannot afford another disastrous transfer window and paying £80million-plus for two Watford players would certainly represent a substantial risk.
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