Earlier reports linking Everton to Betis defender are ‘made up’ – report
Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo have declared that recent reports linking Everton with a move for Real Betis defender Emerson are completely made up.
The Toffees were linked with a move for the 21-year-old full-back during the summer but a deal never materialised.
Reports earlier this week suggested that Everton would try against for the Brazilian and they would battle AC Milan for his signature.
But Estadio Deportivo have simply stated ‘It’s all made up’, and they went on to state the claims appeared ‘as if by magic to try to destabilize and deconcentrate’ Betis ahead of their game against Barcelona this weekend.
The outlet doesn’t suggest a culprit for these reports in what looks to be an utterly baffling series of events in the Spanish media.
The reports in the summer touted Emerson as a potential long-term replacement for Seamus Coleman who the Toffees need to begin phasing out of the first team.
At 32, Coleman is still proving useful to Carlo Ancelotti as he started all five of Everton’s Premier League games this season before getting injured against Liverpool.
That is the problem with Coleman, as he gets older he is getting more injury prone and there is no guarantee that he will be fit to play another full season of Premier League football. It makes sense then that the Toffees are sourcing a replacement, but it doesn’t seem that Emerson is one of their targets.
It is unknown when Coleman will return for Everton but fans will be hoping that he regains fitness sooner rather than later as the Toffees defence has looked much less stable in the absence of the 32-year-old.
In other Everton news, Ancelotti may be able to welcome back James Rodriguez for this weekend’s game against Manchester United.