Rafa Benitez expects Everton transfer business to be done early
Rafa Benitez is ‘convinced’ Everton will get their January transfer business done early as they look to turn their season around.
The Toffees have won just once in their last 11 games in the Premier League and find themselves just eight points above the relegation zone in 15th place.
They have been linked with a host of signings for January in a bid to bolster their squad, with manager Benitez openly admitting he will look to add to the side.
He has now revealed however during his press conference, via Liverpool Echo, ahead of the game against Brighton on Sunday that he is ‘convinced’ that deals will be done and is hopeful it can be done quickly.
“I said to you maybe 10 or 15 days ago that I was 200% confident that we will do something at the beginning of January,” he said.
“Still I am convinced about that. My focus now is just to be sure we approach Brighton with the right mentality.
“I am concentrating on the games, I’m preparing the tactics and trying to be focused on that.
“At the same time, the board is working on new signings. We are close to players, yes. Do I need to worry about that? No.
“Someone else is doing the job and then we have had conversations. Everything is in place to move forward.”
“We will try to do things quickly, and do things best for this moment and for the future.”
Boost
News that Everton are planning to do their business can only be a positive thing for the club and their fans ahead of what is a huge second half of the season.
Benitez’s signings in the summer have largely been a success so far with Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend performing well, although Salomon Rondon has struggled.
He is now being trusted in the market again to improve the side, with Dinamo Kyiv defender Vitaly Mykolenko already being announced as the first signing of the window in a £20m deal.
Any incomings will surely be a big plus to the team after the amount of injuries they’ve suffered so far and the poor form they’ve been through, but Benitez is right when he says he needs them to want to be there.
Signing players on big money hasn’t worked out in the past with the likes of James Rodriguez and Cenk Tosun, so a bit more care needs to go into the process.
It’s a huge month for the Blues and for Benitez’s reign at Goodison Park.
In other Everton news, 30-year-old reaches agreement to leave Goodison Park in January, clubs discussing deal – report.