Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has issued further details on James Rodriguez’ Everton situation on Twitter.
It has been widely speculated, first by reports in Colombia, that Everton are set to offload the advanced playmaker to Qatari side Al Rayyan, with the Middle Eastern side still open for transfer business.
Rodriguez has yet to feature in the Premier League this season with a move to Porto, one that would have seen Luis Diaz moving the other way, breaking down late on in the transfer window.
Rodriguez failed to make the squad in the Toffees’ 3-0 defeat against Aston Villa that ended their bright unbeaten start to life in the Premier League in the latest sign that he has fallen out of favour with new manager Rafa Benitez.
The Carlo Ancelotti-era signing, who joined from Real Madrid on a free transfer, has a long-running feud with the new Everton gaffer that stretches back to their days in Madrid together.
Following the latest exclusion and news over a move, the rift between them looks irreparably unamicable.
And having since taken to Twitter, Romano has issued the latest developments regarding Rodriguez’ future, claiming that he looks to be shipped out on loan and talks are not as advanced as first thought:
Twitter: Negotiations ongoing between Al Rayyan and James Rodriguez with his representatives. Talks over potential loan deal… https://t.co/CMCoIgvYut (@FabrizioRomano)
Rodriguez was recently spotted by a Norwegian travel vlogger on Instagram and only fuelled speculation that he was off to Dubai for a medical before completing a move to Qatar.
Read Everton Verdict
If he cannot be rehabilitated as an asset under Benitez, the next-best thing is to offload the asset for a fee.
After all, Demarai Gray has excelled in an attacking playmaking role with three goals in five Premier League games this season and in that sense, Rodriguez’ absence may have a reduced bearing on the Toffees’ potency in front of goal.
