Everton have tried, and failed, to sign some truly exceptional footballers across the last few decades.
It’s actually been frustrating to watch just how impressive their talent identification has actually been, but without the funds or backing to follow through.
Current Everton owner Farhad Moshiri promised to change that, but his financial revolution proved to be a false dawn that regressed them more than anything.
Now, Dan Friedkin will hope to right those wrongs of the past.
Aaron Ramsey nearly signed for Everton
There are so many stories of players who have revealed they nearly joined the Toffees, and the latest one comes from Aaron Ramsey.
The 33-year-old, who actually still plays for Cardiff City in the Championship, has enjoyed a star-studded career, albeit one blighted by injury.
However, for a period at Arsenal, he was regarded as one of their top performers, and thus became a bit of a cult hero across the Premier League.
Now, speaking on Sky Sports just last night, he revealed: ‘I went to David Moyes’s house as well. He invited me around there. He was brilliant as well and very accommodating. It was a real moment for me to be in his living room and for him to go through the plans that he would have for me.
What other big-name players have Everton missed out on?
Whilst Ramsey might have been a shrewd coup at the time for Everton, given he was once regarded as one of the Premier League’s best attacking midfielders when fit, he is not the only star name to have nearly moved to Goodison Park.
After all, the biggest error made by the club in recent years was when Everton failed to sign Erling Haaland as a youngster for a minimal fee.
Everton also wanted Eden Hazard once upon a time, but the funds for his acquisition proved to be too much. Everyone knows how that story then went.
It seems that financial hurdles have hampered the Toffees for decades now, whether it be forcing them into a sale, or ruling them out of the race for a top talent.
Even more recently, Bayer Leverkusen star Victor Boniface was a target for Everton last summer, but they opted out.
All these elite-level assets could have revolutionised the club, and they just could not capitalise.
