Rafa Benitez has delivered a stark message as Everton approach the final week of the transfer window saying: “If we can get rid of players, we can bring players in”. The Blues boss says financial fair play regulations have left the club needing to be “creative” with Benitez admitting some of his first-choice targets may now be out of reach. Everton are ready to let James Rodriguez, Moise Kean and Jonjoe Kenny leave the club this month and while Fabian Delph is also available, he is understood to be keen on staying to work under Benitez. Benitez holds interest in Burnley winger Dwight McNeil but The Clarets’ asking price means the Blues are not currently in a position to make a move for the 21-year-old. A new right-back, the signing of Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff and a back-up striker have also been on the manager’s wish-list but the Everton boss conceded any incomings the club do manage to secure before the August 31 deadline may not be “ideal solutions”. Benitez, however, remains hopeful of improving his options before the close of the month.
Rafa Benitez said: “I was clear in one of the last interviews. It is a very simple situation. The financial fair play rules are there for us, for everyone, and we have to follow these rules. We have to adapt our strategy to that and if we can get rid of players, we can bring players in. We have to be creative and find solutions the best way possible.”
Benitez’s sobering message is in contrast to the bullish attitude of his predecessor, Carlo Ancelotti, who just weeks before he left the club, said: “…we can buy without selling players this for sure.”
Ancelotti also went on the front foot saying that it would be “funny” if the Premier League punished Everton for any breach of profit and sustainability regulations given the brazen acts of the six sides who tried to form the European Super League.
Rafa Benitez said: “I am confident we will do something, maybe not everything, but we will do something. The transfer window is not easy for anyone. You can see some teams with a lot of money and others who don’t have too much, but I am confident we are working hard to try and find solutions. Maybe not the ideal solutions that everybody could be expecting but finding solutions that will give us the chance to improve the squad, improve the team and then be as competitive as we want to be.”
