This is set to be a crucial summer for Everton Football Club. They are tasked with bringing a new manager to the club but also face the possibility of a number of departures.
What’s the word?
Earlier this week it was reported that Dominic Calvert-Lewin was attracting the interest of former Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
However, they could also lose James Rodriguez in the next few months too.
That’s according to journalist Pipe Sierra who took to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon to reveal the following:
“Jorge Mendes, representative of James Rodríguez, wants to take the Colombian out of Everton in a €10/20m operation. He has offered him to Napoli, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan. It does not rule out a return to Real Madrid, but it is very difficult.”
Rodriguez only joined the Merseyside outfit on a free transfer a year ago.
Huge blow
When Ancelotti walked through the door of Goodison Park there was always a feeling that he could attract some of the globe’s finest talent to Everton.
Indeed, when Rodriguez signed on the dotted line, that was in full evidence.
The Colombian is one of the most striking attacking midfielders around, ending the 2014 World Cup as the Golden Boot winner and then winning four league titles with Madrid and Bayern Munich. He also went onto win the Champions League on two occasions.
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His form at Everton has also been impressive. He started last term in thrilling fashion, scoring three goals and registering three assists in his opening five matches.
Rodriguez eventually ended the term on six goals and four assists from 23 outings, proving to be one of their main creative outlets.
No player managed more key passes per match (1.8) than the 29-year-old last term, while only Richarlison manager more dribbles per game than Rodriguez.
Based on that, it would be a significant blow to their hopes of securing European football next season. It should also anger Marcel Brands who appears to be at the mercy of super-agent Jorge Mendes.
They benefitted from him last summer when the player first arrived in Merseyside but this appears to be an agent-led exit more than anything.
Brands pulled off a masterstroke to sign him last year so it would leave him dejected to see his prized possession looking towards the exit door already.