Of the players bought by previous managers, the period of time until their contracts expire will result in the following expenditure (figures taken from websites):
Sigurdsson 30 June 2022: £100,000 pw x 141 weeks = £14,100,000
Tosun 30 June 2022: £60,000 pw x 141 weeks = £8,460,000
Keane 30 June 2022: £60,000 pw x 141 weeks = £8,460,000
Schneiderlin 30 June 2021: £100,000 pw x 89 weeks = £8,900,000
Walcott 30 June 2021: £100,000 pw x 89 weeks = £8,900,000
Niasse 30 June 2020: £55,000 pw x 37 weeks = £2,035,000
Martina 30 June 2020: £35,000 pw x 37 weeks = £1,295,000
TOTAL: £52,150,000
I suspect some of these figures may be wrong for the amount they are being paid. I would imagine Walcott is on more than £100,000 per week. Also I would expect contracts will include payments of loyalty bonuses.
We saw with Mirallas that we couldn't sell him. Eventually we had to let him go without receiving a fee and I suspect we probably paid him the majority of the total sum owed to him on the remainder of his contract. So it seems highly unlikely we will get rid of many of these players when they are on these wages and lengthy contracts. We could possibly sell Keane given his age but very little chance of selling the others given their ages and and salaries.
There have been many catastrophic decisions made by Everton FC over the years but appointing Walsh as director of football is right up there as one of the worst (Niasse may have been bought before he joined the club).
When you consider the transfer fees paid to bring these players to the club together with the money paid to them already since they joined, it is a tragedy.
Good luck Mr Brands – if you can shift any of these players then you are a genius.
