Kevin Thelwell to have Everton transfer regret as documents being completed for Vitor Roque Barcelona exit
Everton sporting director Kevin Thelwell will be regretful today as Barcelona striker Vitor Roque finalises a move to Real Betis.
The Blues reportedly submitted a £23.9m bid for the forward earlier in August [Mundo Deportivo] but failed to follow their initial approach with an improved offer.
As per Fabrizio Romano [24 August], Everton have lost out on the Brazilian as he closes on a loan move to Real Betis in a deal that would have suited Sean Dyche down to the ground.
Everton should have signed Vitor Roque
Once word was public of the Blues’ bid for Roque and Barcelona’s eagerness to sell, top European sides threw their hat in the ring including Real Sociedad, FC Porto, and Sporting CP.
A chance to remain in Spain and on the Catalonian’s payroll could have meant that the Toffees’ efforts to sign the forward were in vain and would excuse Thelwell for not following up the initial approach.
However, as Dyche admits that main forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin could still leave Goodison Park [Daily Mail] in the final days of the transfer window, Everton are left in an uncomfortable position.
The 27-year-old has been linked with an Everton exit all summer [talkSPORT] but a sale at this stage of the transfer window will leave the Blues with little time to find a replacement and will recoup nowhere near the fee that Newcastle United were willing to pay in June.
Thelwell has thus far done a remarkable job this summer despite difficult circumstances. Illiman Ndiaye, Jasper Linstrom, and Jake O’Brien can be first-team regulars this season and another loan spell for Jack Harrison is a smart move to improve the depth on the flanks.
The Blues are still active and have approached PSG for midfielder Carlos Soler [Florian Plettenberg] and, despite looking likely to lose out to West Ham United, it is still a positive sign that Everton will strive to improve the squad until the 30 August deadline.
With limited options on the market, Everton will have to cut their losses in pursuing a striker and focus on holding onto Calvert-Lewin and placing their faith in him until the January window at the very least.
In other Everton news, Sean Dyche has named two Everton players set to exit Goodison Park.
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