In regulatory terms they’re fine, obviously, and completely within the rules. Everton have been very smart in exploiting the nuances of the player market and good luck to them in that. Sam Allardyce kept Bolton Wanderers afloat due to his astute manipulation of temporary transfers and the club have missed his keenness since.
So it is not that Everton have contravened any regulations or dealt underhandedly to secure the services of Lukaku, Gareth Barry and Gerard Deulofeu on loan this season. It is just that the loan system is an anomaly in these days of financial fair play, because the two concepts are idealistically incompatible.
That sometimes happens. Open-door immigration might be considered a good, progressive policy. The welfare state most certainly is. Yet open-door immigration and the welfare state combined are potentially catastrophic to a nation’s resources.
