Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed claims Everton’s trip to West Ham this weekend has taken on added significance because he was appointed ahead of David Moyes to the Toffees’ top job.
Director of football Marcel Brands admits Everton cannot afford to buy players at the top end of the market despite a transfer spend of more than £480million over the last four seasons.
Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has strengthened his ties with Everton after paying £30million up front to secure an exclusive option on naming rights for the club’s proposed new stadium.
