Since joining the club, Sean Dyche has been a breath of fresh air for Everton.
The 52-year-old has provided a cut-throat and no-nonsense outlook on many things made unnecessarily complicated by previous managers, and in doing so he has earned the respect of the bulk of the fanbase.
That being said, arguably the greatest factor that has earned praise from Evertonians was his work in keeping them in the division last season and navigating the troubles of this one.
Having made stark progress this campaign too, it would be easy to forget how harshly he and his playing staff have been punished this term too, through no fault of their own.
The financial constraints placed upon the club have left him and Kevin Thelwell severely hamstrung and lacking any resources, yet they did manage some movements in the summer.
However, the same seems unlikely as this month draws to a close…
What Sean Dyche said about Everton’s transfers
That being said, this window has been dominated by talk of more outgoings than any potential incomings for Everton, such is the precarity of their fiscal position.
Seen as needing to balance the books by many outsiders, the opportunity to pry a key asset like Jarrad Branthwaite or Amadou Onana from Goodison Park has been one many have reportedly tried to encourage.
But, Dyche has remained firm on his stance that neither will depart this month, despite having seen the likes of Richarlison and Anthony Gordon both offloaded in recent years in a desperate attempt to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
The former Burnley man would shed some light on the situation: ‘I just don’t think we are in that space at the moment, we don’t need to be in that space [of selling players cheaply].
‘I think the club can at least control its finances at this time. I’ve certainly not been told we have to do anything other than crack on with what we’re doing, concentrate on the team and winning games.
‘Some of the work from the last window is paying us back now. Because obviously it is in better shape. Some of the contract [decisions] were necessities.
‘Fans were asking why we were letting that player and that player go, there is a reason… [And] Our deals had to be constructed to the future because of our financial situation. As much as cutting it down and levelling it out and managing the situation has been awkward, and it still is, it’s in a different shape now.’
Will Everton make any signings this January?
Whilst Dyche remains staunch in his position that nobody will be allowed to leave, most fans will instead be bothered about how this squad has seen no improvements despite its obvious flaws.
Threadbare and heavily reliant on a few key players, the recent absence of Abdoulaye Doucoure has aggressively outlined just how poor they are without the 31-year-old.
Everton desperately need attacking reinforcements, but they need them without having to pay much at all.
Said Benrahma coming from a Premier League side would not come cheap, and whilst prying Jota from Saudi Arabia would be a coup, it seems a tricky deal to seal.
Even Jhon Cordoba, who is available for just £7m, represents an unnecessary risk for a player vastly unproven.
Therefore, whilst there are tenuous links, it is unlikely that Dyche will act on them.
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox
