'They didn't bring anyone else in' - Pundit reckons Everton made a poor decision to sell Iwobi

Sky Sports pundit Sue Smith has criticized Everton higher-ups for sanctioning the sale of Alex Iwobi to Fulham without signing a replacement. 

The Nigeria international completed a switch to the Cottagers on deadline day, putting pen to paper on a five-year contract that will keep him at Craven Cottage on June 30, 2028.

With Iwobi in the final year of his contract and refusing to extend his stay at Goodison Park, it made business sense to trade him this summer rather than lose him for nothing at the end of the 2023-2024 campaign. 

Being a homegrown player with Premier League experience, Iwobi commanded a decent transfer fee, with the Toffees set to trouser 22 million pounds from the sale of the Arsenal-reared winger. 

Everton were preparing a late move for Leeds United's Italy international Wilfried Gnonto and were also interested in Luis Sinisterra, but in the end, none of the deals materialized. 

"Evertonians would've been OK with it if they'd brought someone in," Smith said on Sky Sports. 

"With one year left on his contract, £22m is OK but they didn't bring anyone else in, and their losing that energy and intensity."

Iwobi had started 52 consecutive matches for Everton in the Premier League and the run ended last weekend when he was left out of the squad for the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers due to a hamstring injury he suffered against Aston Villa. 

Igho Kingsley 

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