Everton have now missed their chance to sign £17m target on the cheap

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Everton’s transfer business across the last few years has been scaled down dramatically, with looming Financial Fair Play charges hampering their activity in the market.

Instead of buying star players to aid their development, they have instead had to offload key assets just to stay afloat, only purchasing within their means. It is therefore no surprise that the last two seasons have resulted in gruelling relegation battles, in which they continue to somehow survive.

A mainstay of the Premier League, Sean Dyche seems the safest pair of hands the club has had in a long time to uphold their top-flight status, with his business over the summer impressive alongside Kevin Thelwell.

The two work well to identify key areas of weakness, and acted with incision to somehow improve their squad.

However, with reports only recently having emerged linking them to Hoffenheim’s Max Beier, a fresh update from the German club has scuppered any chances the Toffees had of snagging the young marksman.

After all, German outlet BILD reports that the 21-year-old has signed a new deal, with the presence of a release clause unlikely to offer much solace given it is certain to mark a huge increase from the initial €20m (£17m) one that was present.

Their academy graduate is now tied down until 2027, and will in turn mark a much tougher task to pry from his homeland.

How good is Max Beier?

Although likely an unknown name for many, the blistering start to the new campaign has seen Beier’s stock rise dramatically, earning him widespread praise.

However, that should come as no surprise, given the youngster already has six Bundesliga goals after just eight games.

His proficiency in front of goal is alarming for someone so inexperienced, and his cutting-edge is emphasised through the fact that he has reached such a tally from an expected goals of just 3.30.

The words of his manager Pellegrino Matarazzo ring true after such a rich vein of goalscoring form, as he noted: ‘He can manage that thanks to his dynamism and technique. You either have those genes or you don’t, and Maxi has those genes to score goals.’

His arrival at Goodison Park could have marked an exciting addition only set to bolster a squad somehow evolving under their financial constraints. However, this latest setback could prove a step too far in their pursuit.