Richard Keys shares transfer verdict at Everton as Alisher Usmanov named

Richard Keys was left fuming at the sale of former Everton forward Ellis Simms to Coventry, saying it made no sense to let such a young talent go despite their financial troubles.

Writing on his personal Twitter account (21 July) the beIN Sports presenter namechecked Alisher Usmanov and referenced his sanction as a reason for Everton’s lack of funds, hence the need to sell Sims for £8m.

Usmanov was banned from the UK after Russia invaded Ukraine in September 2021, with a report from The Guardian on 3 May claiming the Oligarch continued to fund Everton despite his assets being frozen in this country.

And tweeting in response to the Esk’s report of Everton letting £7m go to pay out the likes of former club directors Denise Barret-Baxendale, Grant Ingles and Graham Sharp who departed in June, Keys believes they must have much of Everton’s remaining funds now.

He tweeted: “I guess this is why they sold Ellis Simms for £8m? I’m glad they did but it made no sense. You don’t let good young talent go.

“There really can’t be any money whilst Usmanov remains sanctioned.

“Barrett-Baxendale Ingles & Sharp must have what there was now.”

Right to rant

Keys is certainly right to rant about what’s gone on at Everton in the past month or so as their financial issues has certainly brought a lot of criticism and questions, especially regarding the Usmanov controversy.

It’s not only Simms that Everton had to let go in order to ease their financial burden but also allowing burgeoning young academy talent 7-year-old Ishe Samuels-Smith for a fee of around £4m.

It’s certainly painful for Everton to let some of their talents go because of costs going out elsewhere, which Keys clearly makes plain, and that £7m to the three former directors certainly throws up more questions, especially with manager Sean Dyche struggling to add to his squad this summer.

That £7million could well have been used for a new signing or two which Dyche desperately needs right now to ensure Everton are challenging higher in the Premier League table, but the malaise of the Everton board over the past few months, including the remaining Bill Kenwright, those three directors simply had to depart.

Imagine what that figure could have been had Kenwright departed when he was expected to, it’s no wonder Moshiri decided to keep him in the end.

In other Everton news, the club are open to selling another star to boost their transfer kitty for a new striker.