Everton prepared to pay for James Rodriguez exit this week

Everton are open to the exit of James Rodriguez this week and are prepared to pay for it, according to Carlos Aleman.

The Colombian journalist, speaking on Win Sports TV, in a video relayed on their Twitter account, claims state-backed [Off The Ball] Istanbul Basaksehir’s pursuit of his compatriot is real, with the Merseyside club happy to let him leave to Turkey.

“It is true of Başakşehir’s interest in James Rodríguez,” Aleman said. “Everton is open to negotiation and they would put part of his salary to go on loan.”

Costly signing

Rodriguez wowed Everton fans in the early stages of the 2020/21 campaign, but events have rapidly gone downhill for the 30-year-old.

He was in and out of the team in the second half of the season, suffering from reported injuries, though he played a starring role in the club’s historic 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield in February.

His absence from the final two Premier League games of that campaign, against Sheffield United and Manchester City, caused consternation among the Goodison faithful as he was pictured jetting off back to Colombia.

Rodriguez then suffered the blow of being left out of his nation’s Copa America squad due to a lack of fitness.

Everton

He has not been involved in any of Everton’s first four games this season, with the South American star not featuring in Rafa Benitez’s plans.

Despite the Blues failing to make any stellar attacker signing in the summer, spending just £1.7million on Demarai Gray, it looks like Benitez is happy to sanction Rodriguez’s departure.

The Blues board will have to take a hit, however, and pay part of his wages to go out on loan for the 2021/22 campaign before his contract runs out next summer.

In other Everton news, an agent has shared a major injury development on big-money Blues player.

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