Bernard Everton exit nearer as squad shake up begins

Everton winger Bernard (Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Everton winger Bernard (Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)

After his press conference Wednesday Everton boss Rafa Benitez has begun his squad shake-up with stories that diminutive Brazilian winger Bernard is close to moving.

The former Shaktar Donetsk player has been very much on the fringe of things at Everton for a while now and he was close to a move to the middle east at the end of the last summer transfer window.

That move fell through but now it looks as though it might well be revived with a possible deal involving a club in UAE along with alleged interest from Russian and Greek clubs.

So it looks as though Bernard’s time at Goodison Park could well be coming to an end soon and he will be off the club’s books, hopefully in time for some of that money to be used to help bring in a new player possibly.

Talking of South American footballers there has been further developments in the uncertainty surrounding James Rodriguez future.

According to reports in the Echo, Benitez and the Colombian have already spoken about his future and they reckon it’s all been sorted, one way or the other.

The paper think that decision is that he will leave the club for pastures new before the transfer window draws to a close.

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He’s been linked with several European clubs including Milan and of course another re-uniting with his favourite coach Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.

Well all this is conjecture at the moment and it’s just possible Rodriguez might well stay and see out the final year of his contract although if you were betting on it I think you’d get long odds.

Another player who’s future is in doubt is forward Moise Kean.

The young striker is back and training with his Everton team-mates amidst constant stories that he is still a target of PSG where he was on loan last season or possibly Juventus the club he signed from.

His situation is also intriging and unless the Toffees get a suitably big fee, if he stays he might well have a significant part to play in a Benitez Blues team.

With so much uncertainty over how much money will be available to spend on new players, if he’s not sold, Kean could be an important part of Benitez plans.