Everton didn’t have much luck when it came to the summer transfer window.
They were severely restricted with their finances and as a consequence, spent money on a solitary player in Demarai Gray.
Four other faces arrived but they happened to be free transfers.
What’s the word?
It’s unlikely the Toffees will have much money to spend in January either but their wage bill has been saved drastically after James Rodriguez departed permanently earlier this month.
The Colombian didn’t play a single game under Rafa Benitez but his mesmeric qualities will need replacing sooner rather than later.
One player that Everton have seemingly identified ahead of January is Real Madrid’s creative midfielder, Isco.
That’s according to Defensa Central (via Sport Witness) who suggests the Toffees are ‘crazy’ to get signings done in the winter.
As a result, they have targeted £16.2m-rated Isco with a view to bringing the Spaniard to Goodison Park on loan.
It’s thought that Everton are willing to pay the player’s full salary.
Rodriguez 2.0
If Everton decided to spend all of Rodriguez’s salary on one player, it would be a strange judgement call from Marcel Brands and co.
That being said, there would be few better players to bring to Merseyside than Isco.
He is cut from a similar cloth as Rodriguez and could be their next version of the Colombia international for more reasons than one.
The Spain international wouldn’t just cost a fair wedge in terms of his wage but he’d hopefully be able to offer similarly magical performances.
Back when Isco was breaking onto the scene, Spanish publication Marca compared him to one of the greatest the game has seen, while waxing lyrical about his style of play.
One report wrote: “Isco combines strength and skill. His centre of gravity is low and this makes him quick off the mark and able to keep possession of the ball, characteristics he shares with Aguero.
“He has great vision as well as a killer pass, and a level of control reminiscent of Zidane.”
A lot of those traits are also comparable to Rodriguez, someone who contributed to ten Premier League goals in his one and only season in England.
At the age of 29, Isco is now in the prime of his career and is still capable of producing magical performances. For instance, this season he has produced a dazzling 1.7 dribbles per game.
His ball control is elite and with his deft touch and clever skill, he could take Everton’s attack to the next level.
It also helps that Rafa Benitez knows him well. Speaking about the playmaker in 2015, the Everton boss said: “Isco is a great footballer and what he needs to do is to carry on doing what he has been this whole time. Work, work with intensity and dedication and beyond that make the most of the quality he has to score the odd goal more.”
With Everton’s financial situation not in the greatest of places, a loan move for someone with the quality of Isco makes plenty of sense.