The seemingly eternal search for a right back for Everton continues to march on, with the season getting closer and closer.
Everton's opening preseason matchup at Dundee featured Merlin Rohl at right back, which could have been equal parts an experiment (what if they can't find a starter before the season starts?) and a message to the rest of his transfer committee (this is the consequence of not signing a right back).
But after a season and a half of Jake O'Brien, the need to replace Seamus Coleman is well past the point of necessity. It's urgent. It's the type of miss that could hamstring the entire season.
There have been plenty of links, some far fetched, others less than ideal. But the one link that is most intriguing is actually from the January transfer window of 2025.
Back then, Ekrem Konur reported that Everton had shown interest in then-Ajax right back Devyne Rensch, noting that AS Roma, Napoli, and Marseille were also looking into adding the then-21-year-old to their squad.
For those who aren't in the know, Rensch ended up at Roma for a fee between €4-5 million, potentially rising as high as €6 million.
The Dutch international ended up making 32 appearances for Roma last season, starting 17 matches, spending time at both right back and as a defensive midfielder in just over 1600 minutes. He scored one goal and tallied four assists.
His numbers were so low because Roma preferred another young right back to Rensch, the Brazilian Wesley, who will only just be 23 in September, whereas the Dutchman will be 24 next January. Wesley, who came to Roma from Flamengo last summer, made 30 appearances for the club, starting 28 of them, also moving between right back and midfield.
This is all further complicated by the fact that Roma reportedly have their eye on Algerian Rafik Belghali, another right back who would complicate the depth that also includes 20-year-old Mattia Mannini, who was on loan at Juve Stabia last year.
If it isn't clear, this feels like an opportunity for Everton to use the relationship they likely have with AS Roma, who are also owned by The Friedkin Group, to the club's advantage.
No, Roma can't cut them a deal, and there are rules in place to avoid nefarious dealings between clubs under the same ownership.
But that doesn't mean that the two clubs can't work together in order to benefit both sides. Roma, especially if they bring ing Belghali, will have a glut of right back options. Everton are in dire need of a starting option at the position.
Maybe it's a loan to buy option to see if the fit is there. Maybe Everton can pay a reasonable fee that allows Roma to spend those funds elsewhere, allowing Roma to make a profit on a young player after just 18 months.
Either way, the potential for a win-win solution is there, and Devyne Rensch would benefit from the move as well.
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