Everton are reportedly at risk of beginning the Premier League season with yet another points deduction.
The Toffees were hit with a staggering 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR) last November for an infraction in the 2021-22 season.
The deduction was slashed to six points after an appeal, only for Everton to be docked two further points in April for overspending in the 2022-23 campaign.
All up, Everton were deducted eight points over the course of the season but managed to avoid relegation thanks to a 15th-place finish.
However, Everton may have fallen foul of PSR once more.
Everton could face a third points deduction to start the 2024-25 Premier League season
According to The Sun, the Premier League believes Everton went out of the PSR parameters by another £6.5million in the 2022-23 season.
The club had already overspent by £16m that season due to interest payments on their new stadium.
But the report claims the Premier League allegedly believes Everton spent more than the £16m figure due to those interest payments on the Bramley-Moore Dock site not being included in the expenditure.
An independent commission has already thrown out the Premier League's claim Everton's £17m in interest payments should be included in their PSR losses.
However, the commission - who also handed down Everton's second points deduction last season - will take a second glance at the alleged £6.5m payments as it could be evidence of yet another PSR breach.
Although Everton and the Premier League are pushing for a resolution as soon as possible, the commission has not provided any answers on when or what the verdict may be.
The Premier League believe the £6.5m in question should be factored into the club's expenditure given it was spent on everyday costs of keeping the club going.
But Everton will refute those claims, insisting costs associated with a stadium do not factor into PSR estimations.
The Toffees were deducted a total of eight points over the course of the 23-24 season
Sean Dyche's side managed to stave off relegation and managed to finish in 15th place
Commencing the new Premier League campaign with a two-point deduction will not be what Everton boss Sean Dyche had in mind.
The club has had a mixed bag of results in pre-season, with just one win and two draws from five games.
Dyche must also cope with the departure of imposing midfielder Amadou Onana who moved to Aston Villa for £50m in July.
Everton have made four signings so far, including Senegalese attacking midfielder Iliman Ndiaye's arrival from Marseille while Irish centre-back Jake O'Brien joined from Lyon.