According to Sky Sports, Everton are closing in on the signing of Real Madrid star James Rodriguez.
What’s the word?
The Toffees have been linked with a whole host of players this summer, including the likes of Napoli midfielder Allan, and Watford ace Abdoulaye Doucoure.
But according to Sky Sports, it may be Rodriguez who is first to join Carlo Ancelotti’s side this summer, with an offer already being presented to Madrid.
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The report adds that Everton’s bid is under consideration at the Santiago Bernabeu, and that “it is believed talks between the two clubs are progressing well and an agreement over a deal may be close”. Sky Sports further claim that Rodriguez himself is keen on making the move to Goodison Park, and inclined to put pen to paper on a three-year deal.
Expensive nightmare
The very fact Rodriguez is even being touted with a move to Everton is a testament to the kind of pulling power Ancelotti has brought with him to Goodison Park.
The Toffees don’t have any European football to offer next season, and realistically won’t be challenging for the Premier League title either, so Ancelotti and co will certainly have worked their magic in swaying Rodriguez to join the club.
But whilst on paper it seems like a stunning coup, there are several reasons for Everton to be a bit more cautious about it. Rodriguez is reported to be earning around £200k-a-week at Madrid, which is £80k higher than the Toffees’ two current highest-earners, Bernard and Yerry Mina.
Not only would his wages eat a big chunk out of Everton’s finances, but there’s a real question whether he has the ability to become a success in England. In the measly 14 games he played across all competitions last season, he netted just once and provided only two assists, whilst the campaign before saw him play only 28 times, suffering from knee ligament, calf and adductor problems.
Whilst Ancelotti has gone on record previously to say that he rates him “very highly“, Rodriguez, 29, just may not be the genuine answer for Everton. He may well turn out to be yet another expensive dud that Marcel Brands looks back on with a sense of regret.
The post Everton making a huge mistake with James Rodriguez move first appeared on FootballFanCast.com.
