Everton Could Be Lifted off the Bottom of the Premier League Table if Friedkin Group Sanction Transfer Swap
Everton Football Club, currently languishing at the bottom of the Premier League table, may find a lifeline through a strategic transfer deal sanctioned by the Friedkin Group, the owners of AS Roma. With the Toffees in desperate need of a spark to climb out of their relegation battle, the proposed deal could inject fresh talent into Sean Dyche’s squad, lifting Everton from their perilous position. This potential transfer swap is seen as a critical move, not only for the club’s immediate survival but for its long-term future in England’s top flight.
Everton’s Struggling Campaign
The 2024/25 Premier League season has been a challenging one for Everton. The club, under the management of Sean Dyche, has struggled to find consistency and has only managed a handful of victories, resulting in them sitting firmly at the bottom of the league. Their woes have been compounded by injuries to key players, a lack of attacking flair, and a defense that has been too leaky. With the team clearly underperforming, the pressure is mounting on the board to make drastic moves to salvage the campaign.
One of the most pressing issues at Goodison Park is the club’s lack of goals. While the Toffees have managed to remain competitive in a few matches, they have often failed to convert chances into points, a symptom of a misfiring attack. Meanwhile, their defense, while resilient at times, has been prone to mistakes that have led to unnecessary defeats.
The club’s financial situation, heavily influenced by previous poor investments and the COVID-19 pandemic, has left them in a precarious position. With limited room for maneuver in the transfer market, Everton has been left searching for creative ways to strengthen the squad.
Enter the Friedkin Group
The Friedkin Group, led by American businessman Dan Friedkin, became the majority owners of AS Roma in 2020. Since taking over, the Friedkin family has steadily invested in the Italian club, seeking to restore Roma to the upper echelons of European football. Under their ownership, Roma has seen a degree of stability and investment, both in terms of player acquisitions and infrastructure.
However, reports suggest that the Friedkin Group may now be willing to explore a new avenue for growth—by striking a transfer deal with Everton. Such a move could benefit both clubs: AS Roma could offload some of their underperforming or surplus players, while Everton would gain much-needed reinforcements in the form of skilled individuals to help them escape the relegation zone.
The Proposed Transfer Swap
The specifics of the proposed deal between Everton and Roma are still under wraps, but sources close to both clubs have revealed that it would involve a player swap, potentially with a loan or permanent transfer arrangement. Given Everton’s need for attacking reinforcements and Roma’s willingness to part with certain players who have struggled to find consistent form under manager José Mourinho, the deal could be mutually beneficial.
Roma’s squad, while filled with talent, has seen some players fall out of favor, and a few may be looking for a move to reignite their careers. For instance, Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo, a young Italian international, has been linked with multiple Premier League clubs in the past due to his flair and attacking ability. A player of Zaniolo’s caliber could be exactly what Everton needs to boost their forward options. His arrival at Goodison Park would provide the team with much-needed creativity, something they have sorely lacked in recent weeks.
Roma’s Gianluca Mancini, another player who has been somewhat peripheral in Mourinho’s rotation, could also be a potential target for Everton. The Italian center-back, known for his strong defensive presence, would help shore up the Toffees’ backline, which has struggled to maintain solidity. If such players are part of the swap deal, Everton would undoubtedly bolster both their attacking and defensive options, giving them a more balanced squad to tackle their relegation woes.
The Financial Landscape
Everton’s financial situation remains a significant consideration in any potential move. Due to the club’s ongoing struggles and the tight restrictions placed on spending by Financial Fair Play regulations, the Toffees cannot simply splash out on new players. Instead, they have been forced to explore alternative methods of strengthening their squad, such as player exchanges or loan deals with options to buy.
In this context, a swap deal with Roma could be the perfect solution. Rather than incurring additional costs or taking on players with expensive wages, Everton could offer Roma a player or two who may no longer be needed at Goodison Park. Such a swap would allow both teams to refresh their squads while avoiding the large transfer fees typically associated with Premier League signings.
For Roma, the deal may help balance their squad and relieve some of the wage bill pressure, particularly if players who are not integral to the first team are offloaded. For Everton, however, the hope is that the new arrivals will prove to be the difference between staying in the Premier League and suffering relegation.
The Potential Impact on Everton’s Survival
If the transfer swap proceeds as expected, the impact on Everton’s fortunes could be profound. Zaniolo’s creativity and flair in attack could provide the attacking spark that has been missing in Dyche’s team, helping them create and convert more chances. Meanwhile, Mancini’s defensive stability could solidify Everton’s backline, reducing the number of goals they concede and making them more competitive against the league’s stronger sides.
Such reinforcements could help lift Everton out of the relegation zone. In a highly competitive Premier League, even small changes in squad dynamics can lead to dramatic improvements in results. With the right players brought in, the Toffees could quickly climb up the table and begin to show signs of the form that has previously kept them in the top flight.
Beyond the immediate benefit of survival, a successful swap deal could also set the stage for a more prosperous future for the club. It would demonstrate that the board is willing to act decisively in order to secure the club’s place in the Premier League, signaling to fans, players, and potential investors that Everton is a club on the rise. It would also send a clear message to the squad that the club is committed to improving and is ready to invest in the necessary resources to do so.
Looking Ahead
As the January transfer window approaches, Everton’s management and supporters will be eagerly watching for developments regarding the potential swap deal with AS Roma. Should the Friedkin Group’s proposal come to fruition, it could be the game-changer Everton desperately needs to avoid relegation and begin rebuilding the club for future success.
While it is still early in the process, the potential deal represents a beacon of hope for a team that has long been in decline. If the right players arrive at Goodison Park and make an immediate impact, Everton could soon be looking at a brighter future, lifting themselves off the bottom of the table and securing their place in the Premier League for years to come.
