'We've still got PSR issues' - Ex-Everton boss drops worrying claim in Jack Grealish transfer verdict

Everton will find it tough to sign Nathan Ake alongside his Manchester City teammates Jack Grealish and John Stones this summer.

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, who warns that the club still face issues with profit and sustainability rules [PSR].

Grealish has spent the season on loan at Everton, whilst Stones has announced he will be leaving Man City at the end of the campaign and could return to the blue half of Merseyside where he previously spent three years.

Ake could be free to leave the Etihad this summer in search of more playing time, as the January arrival of Marc Guehi has pushed him further down the pecking order.

Everton will look to strengthen defensively as part of their summer business, whilst adding more goals to the side is also seen as a priority.

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Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes the Man City trio would be “too big a package” to sign in the same transfer window.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks that Grealish is the only one who is likely to move to Hill Dickinson Stadium.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I don’t think we want to become known as sort of the retirement home for lots of Man City players, that’s for sure.

“Plus also Everton, let’s be honest, although the new stadium is coming in, we’ve still got PSR issues in terms of budget. If you start looking at Grealish’s wages, then you look at Ake, who’s going to cost £25million to £30m and then John Stone’s wages as well if he was to come, then it becomes just too big a package.

“There are other areas that we need strengthening, like at full-back and up front where I think the money will be spent. So again, it’s more agents linking it with those three players. Grealish will probably happen, and I’m not so sure about the other two.”

Wyness also told Football Insider that Everton have been in discussions with Stones, but that Bayern Munich could rival the Toffees for his signature.

Stones would link up with former Man City teammate Vincent Kompany at Bayern Munich, who is manager of the Bundesliga club.

The 31-year-old’s injury problems have been cited as a potential reason why Everton could also not go ahead and sign the defender.

David Moyes may also be looking for a younger alternative to his starting centre backs, James Tarkowski and Michael Keane, who are both in their 30s.

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