Everton looking at Atletico Madrid’s Felipe Monteiro, Wolves are also keen
Wolverhampton Wanderers have joined Everton in the hunt to sign Atletico Madrid defender Felipe Monteiro this month, according to Daily Mail journalist Dominic King.
The Brazilian centre-back has just six months left on his current deal at the Wanda Metropolitano, and the La Liga outfit won’t stand in his way for a departure during the January window.
Reports in the Daily Mail [pg 72, 13 January] had already revealed the Toffees would need to sell first in order to fund a move for Felipe, with Abdoulaye Doucoure, Michael Keane, Mason Holgate and Yerry Mina all rumoured to depart.
According to King, fellow Premier league strugglers Wolves are also in the hunt for his signature.
Taking to his personal Twitter account, he tweeted [13 January]: “Aside from exploring a deal for Anthony Elanga, Everton are also looking at Felipe Monteiro; he’s got six months remaining on his contract with Atletico Madrid. Wolves also keen on the Brazilian central defender.”
No Strategy
A potential move for Felipe certainly makes no sense whatsoever for the Toffees board.
Interest in a 33-year-old defender who is in the latter stages of his career, with no relevant Premier League experience is again indicative of the lack of ambition that the Everton board have, where is the strategy and planning?
The club already possess defenders in their 30s with Mina, Keane, Conor Coady and James Tarkowski forming the base of Lampard’s squad, so going for a player who could also be well past his best won’t do the future of the club any good.
The Toffees will be better served going for young, hungry, up-and-coming defenders in order to build the team around, whilst also aiming to build a sustainable and bright future at Goodison Park.
The strategy of signing experienced veteran players simply hasn’t worked in the past, and it’s time the club change their planning and mode of operation in the transfer window.