Everton's summer plans have been disrupted by confirmation that they have been ordered to pay Burnley more than £35m in compensation for breaching the PSR, but the Toffees will still face Leeds United over the signing of the promising striker.
Everton were deducted 10 points at the end of 2023 for financial misconduct, a penalty reduced to six points on appeal a few months later, under the previous regime of Farhad Moshiri.
Everton finished four points above 18th-placed Burnley in 2021-22, but the Lancashire club successfully contested that a six-point penalty for breaching the PSR had been applied that season, they would have survived at the Toffees' expense.
“The impact of this decision can go beyond this case,” said Aaryaman Banerji, head of football governance at LCP last week.
“The precedent set is a steep one – if a club faces difficulties due to breaches of the rules by other clubs, the club that has been adversely affected can apply for compensation.”
Angry Toffees officials immediately appealed what they considered a “flawed” decision, and the Blues are continuing their transfer plans pending a decision.
The priority for David Moyes this summer is a new striker, neither Beto nor Thierno Barry is seen as the man to take the club forward from ninth place.
Everton have been linked with a number of strikers in Serie A, namely Parma star Mateo Pellegrino, and are expected to battle Leeds for the signing of new Juventus star Lois Openda.
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The Openda deal sparks a fierce transfer battle
According to Football Insider, Everton have been offered the option to sign Openda permanently or on a loan-to-buy deal this summer.
Leeds are also in the mix, amid previous suggestions that the 26-year-old is open to a move to Elland Road.
Interestingly, the Belgian is set to join Juventus permanently when the transfer window officially opens on Monday.
Juve took the striker on loan from RB Leipzig last summer but included an automatic buyout option in the deal which started when they finished in the top ten in Serie A.
Openda has scored just once in 24 games in Italy's top flight, so the Turin outfit are determined to get him off their books as soon as the deal is done, even if it is for a while at first.
Juve paid back €3.25m in loans and committed another €42.75m as of Monday, taking the total cost to €46m (£40m).
Openda, who can play on the wing or behind the striker as a number ten, has scored three goals in 33 appearances for Belgium.
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