- Carlos Alcaraz faces a summer exit as Everton trigger Merlin Rohl’s deal.
- Forced permanent signing of Merlin Rohl could push Alcaraz toward the door.
- Injury struggles and Rohl’s arrival leave Alcaraz’s Everton career in jeopardy.
Carlos Alcaraz had a difficult time at Everton this season because of injuries. Now the situation has taken a different turn. The Argentine midfielder signed permanently in the summer of 2025 after an impressive loan spell, but he has struggled for minutes under David Moyes. With just six Premier League starts and 673 minutes of league action this season, his influence has been limited.
Now, a contractual obligation elsewhere could push Alcaraz towards the exit door.
Everton stuck with Merlin Rohl permanent deal
Merlin Rohl joined Everton on loan from Freiburg in the summer, with an agreement that the Blues would make the deal permanent for around £18m if they avoided relegation. That clause does not feature an exit from the loan, meaning Everton will be forced to sign Rohl once Premier League safety is confirmed.
That is bad news for Alcaraz. The 23-year-old has not featured for seven games, with a knock keeping him out of the last five. He has returned to training at Finch Farm, but his absence has barely been noticed as James Garner and Idrissa Gana Gueye continue to dominate midfield.
There was excitement when Rohl arrived, but his mostly poor performances have limited his minutes. If anything, there have been hopes that the permanent deal could be cancelled. But that will not happen.
Alcaraz destined for summer exit
With Rohl signing forced upon them, Everton may need to sell other midfielders. Alcaraz could prove to be the fall guy. He has played just 16 times in the Premier League this season, with no goals and one assist. He averages 1.1 shots per game, 0.3 on target, and 0.6 key passes. He has created two big chances, completes 46 per cent of his dribbles, and loses possession 6.4 times per game.
Those numbers are not good enough for a player who showed promise during his loan spell last year. Moyes has only handed him six league starts this season.
The Argentine would likely attract interest from sides across Europe and South America, having played for Juventus and Flamengo previously. Everton may not want to see him go, but with Rohl’s signing forced upon them, it may be their only option.
Alcaraz has now returned to training and could feature before the season ends. But with seven games left and European qualification in sight, Moyes is unlikely to gamble on a player who has struggled for impact. A summer exit appears increasingly likely.
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