Everton embarrassed by Ellis Simms to Coventry blunder as Sean Dyche reveals new transfer plans
Sean Dyche has said that he and director of football Kevin Thelwell have attempted to start planning for the summer transfer window at Everton despite it being like “juggling sand” at Goodison Park.
The Toffees boss revealed tentative activity ahead of the season’s end [Guardian, 26 April] but he the key director need to have learned some important lessons over Ellis Simms if they are to avoid wasting what little transfer activity might be possible.
The 23-year-old was sold to Coventry City last summer, in a deal which initially banked just £3.5million but could be worth up to £8m, as they gave up the future to fund a striker signing, with teenage full-back Ishe Samuels-Smith also leaving for Chelsea for £4m [i News, 8 July].
After a pair of encouraging loans at Hearts and then Sunderland it appeared Simms had proven his worth, with seven goals for each in a half-season in at Tynecastle and the Stadium of Light respectively, before making something of a first-team breakthrough under Dyche last term, where he started away games at Liverpool and Manchester United and scored his first for the club at Chelsea.
