Everton need to add a few more stars to their squad before the transfer window closes, but there are very real fears that may not happen.
After all, Sean Dyche has been vocal about the club’s dire financial situation and Kevin Thelwell has tried his best to find a solution, but so far to no avail.
He has added some strength in some key positions, but they clearly lack depth at full-back, centre-back, midfield and wide.
Frustratingly, there was a simple option that the Caramels could certainly use to solve the latter problem, although it may not provide the speed they crave.
Instead, a world-class technician would be welcomed back to Goodison Park, much to the delight of the fans.
James Rodriguez is finally making a decision about his future
Fabrizio Romano, as he often does, was at X, unsurprisingly, to break the news that the former Everton star has finally made up his mind about his future.
And while most Evertonians usually don’t care what their former players are doing now, James Rodriguez is a special case.
He remains revered on Merseyside as something of a divine enigma, having danced onto the scene in a daze in a year ravaged by covid and then leaving just as quickly and quietly. It’s like it never happened.
Yet the Colombia international still has an obvious affinity for the club despite two years since his departure and given he has never played in front of a packed Goodison Park.
James Rodriguez even hinted at a return for Everton earlier this year.
Alas, it now appears to be just a dream, with Romano confirming the inevitable: “James Rodriguez, on the verge of joining Rayo Vallecano as an official offer was sent today. Contract until June 2025 plus option for another season. Almost there.’
Could James Rodriguez work for Sean Dyche’s Everton?
The big question surrounding this proposed deal is whether Rodriguez would work in Dyche’s system.
Realistically, the answer is no.
After all, the 33-year-old isn’t getting any younger, and even in his physical prime, the former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich superstar wasn’t at his most energetic anyway.
He never struggled, instead relying on his sheer quality to justify his inclusion, during his first game at Everton the team was built around him.
With a free role, players like Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Richarlison and others were forced to work a little harder to compensate for his otherworldly presence.
Dyche’s current squad has more than enough draft horses to cover his load, but sacrificing an entire position could cause his entire system to collapse.
It’s a dream that will seemingly never come true.