The Telegraph (subscription required) has recently revealed that Everton are in talks to recruit Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez on a permanent deal this summer. It has been mentioned that the Colombian international is keen on linking up with his former boss Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison Park after working with the Italian tactician at Real Madrid as well as during his loan stay with Bayern Munich (via The Telegraph).
Rodriguez’s Lacklustre Campaign At The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
Rodriguez has been a subject of some criticism for his lack of consistency for Los Blancos in the recent past. The 76-time Colombia international struggled to give a good account of himself and only managed to net one goal and provide two assists in 14 appearances for Zinedine Zidane’s side last season on all fronts.
The 29-year-old missed a significant chunk of the previous campaign due to multiple injuries which have hampered his progress at the Spanish capital in recent seasons. However, Rodriguez has done well to average 2.1 tackles, 1.1 shots, 0.8 crosses and 1.8 key passes per 90 minutes in La Liga and boasts a pass completion rate of 82.3% in league football (stats via whoscored).
The Cucuta-born attacker needs to ensure regular game time in the upcoming campaign if he wants to get back to playing at his best. Hence, the Toffees could be the ideal candidates for him as they can afford to guarantee him more first-team starts under Ancelotti’s stewardship which might enable him to play his way back into form in the coming seasons.
What Will The Colombian Sensation Bring To The Table?
Rodriguez has enjoyed playing as a box to box midfielder for the Madrid giants over the past 18 months. He has outstanding ball control and is usually a composed dribbler in the opposition half. The South American playmaker has got the vision to play a killer pass in the attacking third and can strike the ball with a lot of power from long distance. However, he needs to be more productive with his all-around performances at the centre of the park if he intends to stay relevant at the top level.
Is Rodriguez A Decent Option For Ancelotti This Summer?
A player of Rodriguez’s experience and proven quality will bolster Ancelotti’s midfield options and enhance his squad depth at Merseyside next season. He will serve as a significant upgrade over any of Everton’s current midfield options which include Fabian Delph, Andre Gomes, Tom Davies and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
At 29, Rodriguez still has a lot to play for as he looks to compete for some major silverware in the years to come. Maybe the Toffees might not be the best club for him to taste success, but at least he will get a platform to rediscover his old form in top-flight football. All in all, the Colombian would be an excellent option for Ancelotti, but only in the short-term. Otherwise, the Everton boss would be better off looking at some of his other targets if he is looking to build for the future at Goodison Park.
