Farhad Moshiri falls into another transfer trap as James Milner and Everton news emerges
Although James Milner is a marquee name and looks like an intriguing option for Everton to explore in the summer transfer window, it is a move fraught with danger.
90min reported (4 May) that the 37-year-old won’t be offered a new deal with Liverpool this summer, and that has subsequently “opened the door” for the likes of Brighton, the Toffees and Leeds United to fight for his services.
Although Milner has built an incredible footballing CV over the years, Farhad Moshiri has gone down the road of signing experienced players in the past few years, and look where it has got Everton.
The likes of Andros Townsend – 30 years old when signing – Theo Walcott, Fabian Delph, Idrissa Gueye and even Conor Coady have been just a few players in a long list that the Toffees have signed with a firm eye on their leadership abilities, instead of what they can actually deliver on the pitch.
Although the likes of Gueye and Coady have by no means been disappointing signings, they have been prominent figures in a side who are embroiled in a relegation battle and have looked completely rudderless in the Premier League at times.
Others on this list were brilliant players prior to their moves to Goodison Park, but you cannot really say that any improved after moving to Merseyside.
It feels like Everton have forever been ignoring their youth and instead turning to older and supposedly more dependable options in the transfer market.
The club’s reported interest in Milner typifies this approach.
Not only is there the all-too-prominent elephant in the room that Milner has played for Liverpool since 2015, but also how many more years can the 37-year-old get out of his legs.
The ex-England international is entering the twilight stage of his incredible career, and Moshiri must ensure he isn’t snared into a transfer battle for Milner’s services.