Goodison View: Everton could regret missing out on Luis Diaz as Porto plot huge sale
Everton wanted Luis Diaz in the summer, but a move for the Porto attacker fell through as James Rodriguez was not keen on a swap deal.
According to The Athletic, the refusal of the Colombian midfielder to lower his personal demands prevented a deal from happening, and the Toffees could end up missing out.
Diaz, 24, has hit the ground running in 2021-22, with five goals and one assist in six league appearances to his name.
The Colombian international notched just six goals in 30 league games last term, and he is now a goal away from beating his highest league tally, and Everton really could do with such a brilliant finisher in their ranks.
Marca Colombia claim Porto are already rubbing their hands ahead of potentially selling him for an astronomical fee going forward, and the Toffees’ chances of landing him by then could be very low.
Should his red-hot form continue, suitors would definitely have to part with top dollar for his signature, and Rafa Benitez’s side could have been enjoying his goals and also saved themselves a lot of money had a summer deal work out.
While Rodriguez’s refusal blocked that from fruition, the midfielder is being linked with a move to Qatar before their transfer window shuts at the end of the month.
He has left the United Kingdom to hold talks with Al Rayyan and has already undergone a medical.
Should he leave Goodison Park in the coming days, Everton will be able to splash the cash in January and next summer, but a move for Diaz could be too late by then, and signing Rodriguez in the first place is proving to cause more harm than good.
In other Everton news, Rafa Benitez is laying Toffees groundwork with reported blockbuster move ready for January.
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