Everton identified Manchester United striker Ethan Wheatley as one of the youngsters who could boost their youth ranks and push for involvement in manager David Moyes’ team in August.
However, the Toffees pulled the plug on the deal as Wheatley travelled for a medical to join the Hill Dickinson Stadium club, according to The Times.
Everton had set aside several million pounds to recruit the 20-year-old, and three or four other talents.
The club owners, the Friedkin Group, changed their minds and the budget was no longer being made available for such signings.
It was one of the first signs that the Americans were no longer very keen on investing in Everton.
TFG are now looking to sell their stake in the club for around £800 million less than two years after their takeover.
The Merseyside club signed the likes of Hayden Hackney, Tyrique George, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Christian Norgaard in the summer, spending £59m on the quartet.
Jack Grealish returned to Everton on loan, Merlin Rohl’s loan from Freiburg was made permanent for £19m, while Brennan Johnson joined from Crystal Palace in a swap deal.
However, failure to sign a striker has left the Toffees short of much-needed attacking firepower, with Thierno Barry their only recognised number 9.
Signing Wheatley would not have been a solution as he was seen as an acquisition for the future.
Nevertheless, TFG’s refusal to sign such a player spoke volumes, with the owners not showing interest in investing in the club’s future.
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