According to a recent report by AS (translated by The Sun), Everton have a real battle on their hands as they will face fierce competition from Arsenal in pursuit of Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez this month.
It is believed that the Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti is looking to sign the Colombia international on loan, having previously managed the player during his time at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich (via AS).
Rodriguez’s Frustrating Return To The Bernabeu
Rodriguez still has 18 months remaining on his current contract at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Since returning from his loan spell at Munich, the South American playmaker has failed to establish himself as a regular starter at the Spanish capital this season.
Rodriguez has only made 11 appearances for the Galacticos this term, scoring one goal while creating one assist across all competitions. He has averaged 1.7 tackles, 0.4 interceptions, 1.3 shots and 2.0 key passes per game in the Spanish top-flight (stats via whoscored).
What Will The Real Madrid Outcast Bring To Merseyside?
Even though Rodriguez has lost a yard of pace from his game, he still possesses the ability to be a match-winner from midfield. He can still complete some excellent dribbles for his side in the opposition half and can also link up play accurately with others around him. The South American playmaker often hits the target with his attempts and can score some crucial goals for his side.
Recruiting Rodriguez: Wise Move For The Toffees?
The Toffees can benefit a lot from adding someone of Rodriguez’s experience to their squad before the end of this month. He will not only bring a winning mentality to the Merseyside club but will also help Ancelotti get the best out of other players surrounding him at Goodison Park.
Rodriguez could even lead Everton to a top-half finish in the Premier League as long as he can stay injury-free and perform at a high level for the remainder of this campaign.
