Everton boss Roberto Martinez is keen to bring in no less than three new players before 1st September, if reports in today’s media are to be believed.
BBC Sport’s Chief football writer, Phil McNulty, writes that deals for South American pair Ramiro Funes Mori and Leandro Rodriguez are close to completion, with the Catalan also rumoured to be interested in securing an attacking midfielder before next week’s deadline.
24-year-old Argentinian international defender Mori is expected to finalise a £5.7 million deal in the coming days, upon completion of a work permit application and medical, while River Plate Montevideo striker Rodriguez is also close to agreeing a move to Goodison Park, and was in attendance at yesterday’s home game against Manchester City.
As for Martinez’s attempts to bring in a creative presence in midfield, Phil Kirkbride of the Liverpool Echo reports that the Catalan has identified Manchester United’s Adnan Januzaj and Shakhtar Donetsk’s Bernard as alternatives to top target Andriy Yarmolenko.
The Ukrainian club are notoriously difficult negotiators, and while reports in Kyiv suggest a move is far from dead, Everton may now seek either a loan move for Januzaj or the permanent transfer of Brazilian international Bernard.
Belgian international has started United’s last three games, but the belief at Goodison is that the Old Trafford club could be willing to allow the 20-year-old to move on a season-long loan in order to further his development.
Bernard, meanwhile, is a completely different proposition. Shakhtar, it seems, are currently unaware of Everton’s interest, with chairman Sergei Palkin coy on speculation linking his star midfielder with a move to the Premier League
“I cannot comment on this information. At the moment, I have not heard about a serious interest in Bernard from Everton,” said Palkin in an interview with Sport UA.
It remains to be seen which attacking midfielder will join imminent signings Funes Mori and Rodriguez, however, one thing is for sure: there will be plenty of movement at Finch Farm over the next week or so.
UPDATE (24/08): Sky Sports report that Everton, Sunderland and Bournemouth have all agreed loan moves for Napoli’s Dutch international Jonathan de Guzman.
UPDATE: (25/08): Roberto Martinez has today confirmed that a deal to sign Leandro Rodriguez is close to completion.
“It could happen soon but at the moment nothing is concluded,” Martinez told the Echo.
“He is a young striker with an incredible potential, playing for River in Uruguay.
“We are going to find out more in the next three days and will probably be able to say something before the weekend.
Stay tuned to @ReadEverton for all the breaking transfer news.
