Everton enjoyed a busy summer transfer window, laden with numerous attempted transfers.
And, for the most part, it was a largely positive period where exciting new faces were captured.
The lack of actual football allowed fans to simply hone in on their off-pitch antics which, for once, were being conducted with some intelligence and forethought.
Kevin Thelwell is the figurehead who deserves the most thanks for this, having worked the club into a position of newfound sustainability after years of financial turmoil.
Alas, this newfound freedom was still not enough to convince all of their targets to trade their current club for Goodison Park, with one particular failed deal having immediately come back to haunt them.
How close were Everton to signing Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle United?
Everton wanted Yankuba Minteh as a matter of priority, and were clearly not afraid for that information to be public.
After all, various reporters had documented the saga throughout, as the Toffees negotiated with Newcastle United to try and work out a deal to spare their PSR blushes.
The irony was evident for all to see yet, in the end, it was Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s inability to strike a deal with the Magpies that scuppered the touted swap deal.
In the end, it was Brighton and Hove Albion who swooped in, signing the Gambian for £30m.
Already that has started to pay dividends.
Yankuba Minteh has everything that Everton are missing
Despite also trying to sign Wilfried Gnonto, Jaden Philogene, Yaser Asprilla and Largie Ramanzani throughout the window, reportedly, their inability to get Minteh over the line will hurt more than most.
After all, the dynamic 20-year-old boasts everything that Sean Dyche was craving from a winger, blessed with lightning pace and sparkling skill.
He exhibited that well at Goodison Park on the opening day of the Premier League season, skinning Vitaliy Mykolenko before putting it on a plate for Kaoru Mitoma to tap in the opener.
He has since continued to play a starring role in their fine start to the season elsewhere, which has seen them beat Manchester United and snag a draw at Arsenal.
Described as a ‘role model’ already by his new boss Fabian Hurzeler, lauding his efforts in training to commit to their pressing style, this is going to be a botched deal that does not age well for Everton.
They did all they could, but in the end, it was Calvert-Lewin who supposedly let them down.
As the years go on, Minteh is sure to keep making Thelwell regret the saga more and more.
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