Manchester City want to sign defender John Stones from Everton for £40m. Everton have insisted on £50m and at that price the deal is unlikely to go ahead.
This has a broader significance beyond these two clubs. The revenue from the new broadcasting contract means that no club has to sell a player if they don’t want to in order to stay afloat.
Manchester City want to sign defender John Stones from Everton for £40m. Everton have insisted on £50m and at that price the deal is unlikely to go ahead.
This has a broader significance beyond these two clubs. The revenue from the new broadcasting contract means that no club has to sell a player if they don’t want to in order to stay afloat.
This changes the balance between the so-called ‘top clubs’ and the rest of the league. Everton would regard themselves as a top club, indeed when the Premier League was formed they were one of the prime movers.
However, the way that finances have moved in recent years means that they had been unable to achieve their ambitions. With new investment in the club, this could be about to change. Of course, clubs like Manchester City will still have the bonus of Champions League revenues, but those would not pay the requested fee for Stones.