"A concern for everybody connected with the club" - Journalist reacts to major Everton update

Everton are worried about their current financial position, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Premier League outfit are struggling on the pitch at the moment as they are involved in a relegation battle, and there also appear to be off-field issues at the club.

The Toffees cut ties with Alisher Usmanov at the start of March after the Russian was sanctioned following his nation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

This meant that Everton’s sponsorship deal with Usmanov’s firm, USM, was suspended, causing the club to take a financial hit.

It was then revealed on Tuesday that the club had recorded an annual loss of £120.9m for the year ending June 2021. This is the third successive year that Everton have confirmed losses of more than £100m.

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O’Rourke has pointed out that Everton had to spend carefully last summer, and he has hinted that there are growing concerns about them having to take a similar approach in the next transfer window as well.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “With the Usmanov stuff as well, and the sponsorship deals of his being stopped now, it’s a worry. Where’s the money coming from?

“We saw in the summer transfer window, Everton were very restricted on financials, FFP. So, again, that’s a concern for everybody connected with the club.”

It’s difficult to say, as things stand.

Everton have managed to avoid sanctions despite their financial issues, and it remains to be seen how much leeway the Premier League give them in terms of buying players this summer.

Last summer, Everton only spent £1.8m on players, and it has come back to haunt them as they have fallen down the table this term.

If they manage to stay up, it seems that Frank Lampard would