As we continue to wait for Everton to sign new players and amid all the paper speculation, the club’s hierarchy are insisting deals for quality players are possible and the Blues will be doing them.
Well we are still waiting, and despite strong hints and continued links to several players that Everton have long been pursuing, the Blues have not yet brought anyone in even as pre-season training gets underway.
The Liverpool Echo claim that the Toffees key men, Marcel Brands and Carlo Ancelotti, are exploring all the possibilities and are focusing on finding good quality footballers from some of Europe’s top clubs.
There are several ways to look at this. One possibility is that this piece is designed to quash any rumours that there is disagreement between Brands and Ancelotti over the profile and type of players that Everton should pursue.
Brands has always been focused on securing young talent that can develop and then be sold on for a reasonable profit. To this end he has brought in players such as Lucas Digne and Andre Gomes from Barcelona, as well as Moise Kean from Juventus, none of whom were getting regular football at their respective clubs.
Ancelotti though, does seem to want greater experience and higher- profile players, especially in key positions like centre-back and central midfield, who can come in and perform immediately. There is an obvious tension in this difference of approach.
Another angle might be that the Blues are preparing the ground for a window of short-term loan deals and are not confident of being able to secure any significant permanent signings.
The inference behind the article is that both men are in agreement about seeking players from Europe’s top clubs who are keen to get regular football.
So let’s take them at their word and consider who Brands and Ancelotti might be looking at as they cast around for viable and affordable talent.
As an example let’s look at a club that Brands has obviously built a good relationship and has done many past deals with; Barcelona.
The Catalan giants have just endured what for them is a very poor season, surrendering their La Liga title to hated rivals Real Madrid and then suffering a humiliating, record defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final.
On top of all that, Barcelona have major financial problems as well. Now, after such a disappointing campaign, there are also stories that even Lionel Messi might be leaving. Obviously the Argentinian magician isn’t coming to Everton!
But there are several Barca players who could be of interest and might meet the Blues needs. One of those players is someone we’ve previously mentioned; Rafinha.
The Brazilian is an attacking midfielder whose strengths;, carrying the ball from midfield, creating chances and scoring goals, are all areas where Everton are in dire need of improvement.
He is also solid defensively and a very versatile player, most comfortable in the middle but able to operate out wide. Although he has played quite a bit for Barcelona, he’s not a guaranteed starter and has been on loan with Celta Vigo recently, so would presumably be available for a very reasonable fee if Barcelona are trying to trim their squad.
More from Prince Rupert's Tower
- Everton 0 Arsenal 1: Blues fall to third home defeat
- Further chaos in Everton takeover as other lenders not keen on 777 Partners
- Everton need repeat of Arsenal win to kick-start their season on Sunday
- More madness at Everton as Moshiri now agrees to sell club to 777 Partners
- Everton takeover talk cools after UK govt doubts and further questions
Another Barcelona player who has been on loan this season, is Carles Perez who has spent some of this campaign in Serie A with Roma.
Perez is a another attacking player who operates on the right, where he likes to cut inside or centrally alongside or off a centre-forward. His stats are quite impressive. In 28 games, fifteen of which were as substitute in two different leagues and countries, he’s scored four goals and contributed 5 assists.
This is the sort of player Everton and Carlo Ancelotti have apparently been looking for. He’s also 21, which fits in with the Brands transfer philosophy.
One stumbling block for a deal for this player, is that Roma might wish to make his loan permanent, although he hasn’t actually played that often for the Italian club.
Maybe then we are in for another transfer window that sees Everton taking a series of Barcelona, or other club’s fringe players in loan deals..?