Everton blow as Leeds United transfer exit for Rodrigo set to be confirmed amid ‘financials’ update – Alan Myers
Everton could not compete in terms of “financials” for the signing of Rodrigo as the Leeds United man is set to move to Qatar, according to Alan Myers.
The Toffees were heavily linked to a cut-price move for the Spain international, with a release clause in his contract thought to let him leave for £3million [Cope, 7 June].
But after Myers had previously thought on 7 July the 32-year-old might be the most likely target for a Goodison move this week Fabrizio Romano reported Wednesday morning (12 July) that Al Rayyan were putting the forward through a medical with a deal to be signed later in the day.
Sky Sports journalist Mayers then reported via Twitter: “Rodrigo to Qatar will be confirmed later today, this one not for Everton in the end bearing in mind financials involved.”
Disappointment
For his price and profile Rodrigo looked like the ideal opportunity for Everton to address a gaping hole in their squad for a knock-down fee.
It appears that they did what they could to make it happen but after the January transfer window saw them lose out on multiple targets it has proven to be the same old story here.
When it comes to wages Middle Eastern clubs can be hard to compete with for all but the giants of European football, so if he is in line for a hefty salary then that would have scuppered the affordability element of a Goodison switch.
There is no way to view it as anything other than a blow when forward options are so badly needed, but attentions will now switch to alternative targets for Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell.
Links to fellow Elland Road attacker Willy Gnonto aren’t going away, nor to Almeria forward El Bilal Toure, but in both cases it appears those dreaded “financials” are proving a hurdle once again.
German international Niclas Fullkrug sounds like an affordable option who fits Dyche’s favoured profile so could now become of greater prominence, but for now another opportunity has gone begging.
In other Everton news, while the club continues to wait for attacking arrivals another one of the current options is now “in talks” to leave.