The Liverpool Echo's head of sport David Prentice says (3:40) he would like to see Everton sign Real Madrid attacking midfielder James Rodriguez on loan before the January transfer window slams shut on the 31st.

What did he say?

Well, a group of Liverpool Echo sports journalists were videoed having their say on who the Merseyside outfit should be looking to bring to Goodison Park before the deadline, following what has been a very quiet month so far.

The only incoming has been young defender Jarrad Branthwaite, who will link up with the U23s.

With transfer funds potentially limited even if the club believes they are complying with FFP regulations, Prentice had his say on who he thinks Carlo Ancelotti and Marcel Brands should target.

He told The Liverpool Echo: "He's played for Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern, he's played for him at Real, he knows all about him.

"He would excite the supporters and he would give us a bit of creativity in key areas of the pitch, which has been lacking at times.

"I'm also stressing that should be a loan."

Could it happen?

Well, a signing in general appears unlikely as Prentice admits, and it would be difficult to see Rodriguez coming to Goodison Park this month in all honesty even if he has been linked with the move already in recent weeks.

The 28-year-old may be finding first-team football hard to come by at Real Madrid having played just 435 minutes this term – albeit he has missed 12 games through injury this season too as per Transfermarkt – but you would think that should he be made available for loan in the coming days, there would be bigger clubs than Everton in for him.

Call yourself an Everton expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

Of course, the potential pull of working with Carlo Ancelotti for a third time could be a big factor, but even if it was simply a loan move that doesn't take into account his wages – according to Forbes he earns $25.4m (£19.5m) per year at the Bernabeu.

Signing the 2014 World Cup top goalscorer who has played for Real and Bayern Munich would be a massive coup, but it might be a step too far for the Toffees, this month at least.

In other Everton news, one reported Toffees transfer target has liked one of the club's official posts on Instagram...