Everton have issued an official response, amid concerns that major problems could be on the horizon at the club, owing to a series of breaches of Financial Fair Play.

For those not aware, on Friday evening, it was revealed that both Leeds United and Burnley recently wrote to the Premier League, to essentially accuse those in a position of power at Goodison Park of overstepping their financial constraints in a major way.

This of course came with the three clubs, at the time, having been embroiled in a tense battle against relegation from the top-flight of English football.

As per the rules laid out by FFP, no club is permitted to post losses in excess of £105 million over the course of a rolling three-year period, or risk facing potentially serious punishment.

Everton, however, are understood to have recorded a loss of £371.8 million over the last three years.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MAY 19: Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates after scoring during the Premier League match between Everton and Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on May 19, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Even with the Toffees’ £170 million deficit across the length of the pandemic having been written off as part of a league-wide agreement, this would steal leave the Merseyside club alarmingly in excess of the allowable losses alluded to above.

In a joint-letter to the powers that be at the Financial Fair Play offices, Leeds and Burnley, last week, therefore expressed their understandable bewilderment with precisely why Everton had not been subjected to any form of punishment.

‘Their decision’

And now, late on Friday, the powers that be at Goodison have issued their response.

Fresh off securing their top-flight status for another season, in a short statement cited by Goal, the Toffees have assured all associated with the club that they have fully ‘complied with the rules’, hinting that they are altogether unconcerned by the threat of legal action:

“We have worked closely with the Premier League to make sure we are compliant. We are comfortable we have complied with the rules.

“External auditors have told us what we can and cannot claim against the pandemic. If clubs want to take legal action that’s their decision.”

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Published: May 20, 2022 10:35 pm

Last Updated: May 20, 2022 10:43 pm

Word stemming from the Spanish media on Friday suggests that Barcelona are expressing a keen interest in a 2nd member of the attacking ranks of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

The player in question? Serge Gnabry.

As per a report from the reliable Cat Radio, Xavi Hernandez and co. have identified Gnabry as a prime target to reinforce the club’s frontline with a view to the 2022/23 campaign.

This comes with the German international potentially set to be available at a cut price, having refused to put pen to paper on fresh terms ahead of the expiration of his contract in Bavaria in 12 months’ time.

Even more likely, though, is the possibility of Gnabry landing at the Camp Nou as a free agent in the summer of 2023.

MUNICH, GERMANY – MARCH 05: Serge Gnabry is challenged by Jeremie Frimpong during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Allianz Arena on March 05, 2022 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

The former Arsenal star’s future is understood to be linked with that of Ousmane Dembele, with moves for both Gnabry and Leeds United star Raphinha on the cards in the case that the Frenchman opts to move on next month.

Barca directors Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cruyff, in turn, are understood to have made contact with the representatives of the Bayern winger, to obtain a better understanding of the likelihood of a deal being struck.

Lewa eyed

Word of Barcelona’s potential swoop for Gnabry of course comes with the Catalan giants also widely reported to be lining up a deal for another key member of Julian Nagelsmann’s Bayern Munich squad, in the form of Robert Lewandowski.

With ‘Lewa’ himself having made clear his intention to seek pastures new this summer, the board at the Camp Nou have positioned themselves front and centre to take advantage of the situation.

And such endeavours could well be primed to bear imminent fruit, amid suggestions in Spain this week that Pini Zahavi, the Pole’s agent, paid a visit to Barca’s official store, to purchase no fewer than ten jerseys, all with Lewandowski’s name emblazoned across the back.

💣 AVANZA @JijantesFC

El agente de Lewandowski ha comprado esta tarde 10 CAMISETAS en la tienda oficial del Barça en Paseo de Gracia con el nombre del jugador estampado. pic.twitter.com/qZ53DOMFjb

— Gerard Romero (@gerardromero) May 18, 2022

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Concern is no doubt spreading at Premier League-bound Fulham on Friday, amid claims that the club’s deal for Manor Solomon is primed to come up short at the last.

For those not aware, it had long been viewed as a formality that gifted attacker Solomon was primed for a summer switch to Craven Cottage.

This 22-year-old is understood to have been identified as the ideal replacement for the outbound Fabio Carvalho, set to take his talents to Anfield with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool ahead of the new season.

On the back of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Fulham, in turn, quickly swooped to strike what was understood to be a deal worth around £7 million with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Multiple outlets went as far as to state that the transfer was therefore as good as done, with the Cottagers set to add proven attacking quality to their ranks ahead of a season back in the top-flight of English football.

MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 03: Manor Solomon looks on during the UEFA Champions League group D match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on November 03, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

As alluded to above, though, if the latest word doing the rounds online on Friday evening is anything to go by, then Marco Silva and co, in fact, look set for something of a blow when it comes to their plans moving forward.

This comes amid mounting claims that the club’s deal for Solomon is on the verge of collapse.

As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, ‘serious issues’ have arisen at the last, with rival clubs, in turn, have reemerged in the race for the Israeli international’s signature.

Manor Solomon-Fulham deal is on the verge of collapse, despite being verbally agreed for one month and confirmed as ‘imminent’ by the player. ⚠️🇮🇱 #transfers

There are serious issues – and other clubs are now entering the race to sign Solomon, huge opportunity on the market. pic.twitter.com/BxKx3dQ1uz

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 20, 2022

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