Everton transfer rivals block manager from perfect Ricardo Rodriguez deal amid Toffees offer update
Inter have blocked their manager from signing Ricardo Rodriguez amid interest from Everton in the free agent full-back, Fabrizio Romano reports.
The Italian said on The Debrief for Caught Offside on 29 July that Simone Inzaghi saw the Swiss international as the “perfect” back-up option for the Italian champions but their new owners won’t bring in players over 30.
However, the Toffees have not made a formal proposal to the 31-year-old despite talk of bringing him in, with work instead going into completing the move for Lyon centre-back Jake O’Brien.
Football Transfers had reported on 29 July that Everton were interested and faced “stiff competition” from Inter, but according to Romano Rodriguez also has interest from Real Betis in La Liga as well as options in Saudi Arabia.
Everton yet to bid as work goes into Jake O’Brien signing
The deal to sign O’Brien could be a very positive one for Sean Dyche as focus switches to the defence.
But with Vitalii Mykolenko the only specialist left-back in the senior squad and the Ukranian suffering a number of fitness blows in recent months another option at the position looks necessary.
Rodriguez may be too old for Inter but he is a lot younger than 39-year-old Ashley Young who would probably be expected to cover as things stand.
It should be a positive step for the Toffees if the Serie A winners are out of the race as they would have been major competition for the 120-cap international with Champions League football on offer.
Saudi interest may not mean the vast fees it did a year ago but it is still a definite wildcard in any race as the spending power is strong.
Whether Dyche and Kevin Thelwell will turn their attentions to Rodriguez once the O’Brien deal is completed remains to be seen, but as a cheap and experienced option at a position of need he looks like an attractive option.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are considering a new approach over a deal for an international striker.
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