Journalist Paul Brown has his doubts about whether Rafael Benitez and Marcel Brands see eye to eye on Everton's transfer policy.
What has Brown said about Benitez and Brands?
Brown believes that the club's director of football, Brands, wants to bring young players to the club who can develop their game on Merseyside, whereas Benitez is more keen on adding experienced professionals to his squad, which has led to some tension growing between the pair.
However, he has hinted that they are still working together, and the relationship remains amicable for the moment.
He told GIVEMESPORT: “There’s definitely some tension. I do wonder whether, and it’s not just Rafa Benitez, it goes back to Ancelotti, bringing in people like Allan, and obviously at the age they were, I do wonder if Brands is fully supportive of that, but it is clearly a team effort.”
Who did Everton sign this summer?
It seemed clear from Everton's transfer business this summer that Benitez got his way, as the Toffees brought in four players aged 30 or over.
The Premier League outfit signed Andros Townsend, Salomon Rondon and goalkeeping duo Asmir Begovic and Andy Lonergan on free transfers, meaning that Demarai Gray was the only new arrival that they spent money on.
The 25-year-old joined from Bayer Leverkusen for just £1.8m on a three-year deal with an option for a further season after that.
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Was Benitez right to prioritise experience over youth?
That remains to be seen.
His side have started well this season, amassing 10 points from four games, and they have already shown impressive character, coming from behind against Southampton and Burnley to pick up home wins.
Benitez also has an outstanding track record at his former clubs, having won major silverware in Spain, England and Italy, so to doubt him at this stage would be foolish.
Still, it is worth noting that the signing who has arguably caught the eye the most thus far is Gray, who was the youngest of the club's acquisitions this summer. The winger has scored in each of his last three Premier League appearances, and already looks to be a bargain at less than £2m.
Brands could point to this and claim that it shows that signing younger players is the way to go moving forwards, as Gray appears to be approaching his peak and is only likely to improve over the coming years, while some of the older squad members may have little left to offer at this stage of their careers.