Everton Transfer News: Grading the Toffees' Deadline Day

Everton were one of the most proactive clubs during a typically frenetic transfer deadline day, involved in five of the more prominent transactions.

In came James McCarthy on a long-term deal, along with Romelu Lukaku and Gareth Barry on loan, while Marouane Fellaini and Victor Anichebe left the club.

In terms of the three permanent deals, Everton revealed the fees on their official website. Fellaini went for £27.5 million and Anichebe for a sum that could rise to £6 million, while McCarthy arrived for £13 million. 

Here's a detailed look at how those deals will benefit the Toffees, with a gauge of each player's role over the coming season.

For clarity: A = Excellent, B = Good, C = OK, D = Poor, E = Disgusting.

Out: Marouane Fellaini

Grade: C+

Fellaini was clearly a key player for Everton, and selling a marquee name can rarely be viewed in a positive light.

However, when it was revealed that the Belgian was keen to move, many fans expected to lose their man for a reduced fee—or at least for an amount below his original £23 million release clause.

With so many rumours of £20 million bids coming in from Manchester United, the fact Everton eventually received a whopping £27.5 million is a huge boost for the club and drags this deal out of any negative territory.

Had Manchester United acted quicker, they could have snared their man for £4 million less just a few weeks before. As it was they lingered, much to the Toffees' benefit.

Everton's thoughts on the deal were demonstrated by their decision to reveal the facts and figures—insight they predominantly announce as undisclosed. 

Quite rightly they wanted to display their uncompromising, stubborn stance and what was an impressive bargaining triumph over a Premier League giant.

Fellaini will be a tough player to replace, but the huge fee helps Roberto Martinez construct a much deeper squad with more players of his own choosing. After his transfer request, it was always a matter of when, not if, Fellaini left, and Everton more than got their money's worth.

In: James McCarthy

Grade: A

Coming in to replace Fellaini is Wigan's James McCarthy.

In isolation, it's hard not to baulk at the £13 million price, especially when considering the high calibre players to have fetched far less this summer, including Etienne Capoue and Christian Eriksen.

However, this deal has to be looked at in parallel with Fellaini's fee. The fact Everton recouped £27.5 million for the Belgium international means they essentially traded him for McCarthy and a cool sum of more than £12 million. Suddenly that looks a far better equation.

McCarthy is a metronomic passer who will augment the Toffees' passing game and should thrive under Martinez's progressive system. He is an ideal stylistic fit and, at 22, he can develop into one of the leading Premier League midfielders over the next few years.

Looking away from his individual price, this is an excellent deal for Everton.

In: Gareth Barry

Grade: B+

Gareth Barry was a slightly less heralded acquisition on deadline day but is likely to play an important role over the coming season.

Arriving on loan, the Toffees will reportedly pay the majority of his £120,000 per week wages, although the departure of Fellaini, along with fellow high earners David Moyes and Phil Neville, makes that a little more comfortable.

With Fellaini gone and Darron Gibson perennially injured, Everton's midfield lacks substantial backbone—something Barry's presence should rectify.

His positional nous and distribution are up with the Premier League's finest, and don't be surprised if the England international goes on to feature in most Everton games this year. 

Barry adds substantial depth to the squad, increases competition in midfield and, with his contract up in June, should be motivated to perform for his next move.

Out: Victor Anichebe

Grade: B

The second major outgoing was Victor Anichebe.

Coming off his best campaign for the club, the Nigerian's exit raised a few eyebrows among fans, especially given his relative prominence during preseason.

However, as with Fellaini, agreeing a package which could rise to as much as £6 million is another triumph for Everton's negotiating team and could not be ignored.

While Anichebe produced his best goals return of eight last season, he's so often been sidelined by injury and, given his temporary replacement, this is more good work by the Toffees.

In: Romelu Lukaku

Grade: A

The icing on every Evertonians' deadline day cake was undoubtedly Lukaku.

Many fans expected the merry-go-round of midfielders to transpire but were concerned by their club's ailing strikers and feared this may not be addressed.

However, the departure of Anichebe allowed Everton to bring in Lukaku on a season-long loan, and suddenly the Toffees boast a major weapon in attack.

The Belgium international is an elite prospect. He scored 17 Premier League goals last season and should finally bring Everton the attacking threat they have been missing for years.

Again, it's only a loan deal, but there's no fault in this excellent piece of business.

Conclusion

Overall Grade: B+

There's little doubt Everton enjoyed an extremely profitable deadline day. Each deal represents astute work when taken in context, and these sentiments have been echoed throughout the media.

"

Arsenal got the star signing but, overall, I think Everton had the best deadline-day. Not sure where to start with Man United.

— Daniel Taylor (@DTguardian) September 2, 2013"

In midfield they swapped Fellaini for Barry and McCarthy, collecting more than £12 million in change, and they upgraded their attack with Lukaku coming in for Anichebe. They crucially kept hold of Leighton Baines, which deserves credit on its own, and despite Fellaini's departure they look a stronger squad post deadline.

The only remaining frustration will be that none of these deals could have been completed before the start of the season. With Lukaku, especially, Everton would have been a greater threat against Norwich, West Brom and Cardiff and may have collected more than just a trio of draws.

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