EXCLUSIVE: Everton are at risk of a costly points deduction, after being charged over suspected breaking of financial rules… as the Premier League inform clubs they could complete disciplinary case against Toffees THIS SEASON

• The Premier League received letters from Everton’s rivals demanding answers 
• Everton recorded combined losses of £371million over a three-year period
• The Toffees vowed to ‘robustly defend’ themselves over alleged financial breach 

Everton are at risk of a damaging points deduction this season as the Premier League have told clubs they are confident of completing their investigation before the end of this campaign.

Any deduction would be a crushing blow to the club’s survival hopes, and Sportsmail has learned six top-flight rivals have written to the League demanding answers following Everton’s charge last week over breaching spending rules.

Everton are two points above the relegation zone and the four teams directly below them all have games in hand.

As reported by Sportsmail last weekend Everton’s rivals had expressed unhappiness at the timing of the charges after being given categoric assurances by the Premier League last summer that Everton had no case to answer despite recording combined losses of £371million over a three-year period, more than three times the permissible limit of £105m.

In six separate letters sent to the Premier League the clubs are understood to have asked for greater transparency, and demanded that the case be concluded this season. 

Everton are at risk of a damaging points deduction that could put put a huge dent into their Premier League survival chances

Everton recorded combined losses of £371m over a three-year period – more than three times the permissible limit of £105m

Sean Dyche’s side are in a relegation battle on the field but also face problems off it

They also warned that a failure to hear the case this season so could materially affect two successive relegation battles, leaving the Premier League open to multiple legal claims from up to six clubs.

Everton avoided relegation under Frank Lampard by four points last season and are also facing a battle to survive this campaign under Sean Dyche, as they are currently just two points above third-bottom West Ham.

The Premier League are understood to have expressed confidence that the matter could be concluded before the season finishes on 28 May. 

In the discussions the Everton affair was characterised as relative straightforward one involving just one alleged breach of rules, in contrast to the 101 charges the Premier League has levelled against Manchester City for breaking financial rules in a case that is expected to drag on for several years.

The Premier League also explained clearing Everton last summer by claiming that decision had been based on an analysis of the club accounts that had not been audited, whereas a different picture emerged when the audited accounts were submitted.

The Premier League’s case against Everton is based on queries they have raised about allowances claimed by the club for the impact of the pandemic, as well as queries over certain related-party transactions believed to involve Alisher Usmanov, who was a major sponsor of the club before he was sanctioned last year.

Six of the club’s rivals had written to the Premier League demanding answers after Everton were charged 

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