Transfer news: Real Madrid's James Rodriguez close to joining Everton
Premier League side Everton are hopeful of completing a deal worth more than £20m for Real Madrid attacking mid-fielder James Rodriguez. According to a report in Sky Sports, Rodriguez will undergo a medical on Wednesday. The 29-year-old played under present Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti at Spanish champions Real and Bayern Munich. Here's more on the same.
Rodriguez, who returned to Real last season after a two-year loan spell at Bayern, had been marginalized under boss Zinedine Zidane at the Santiago Bernabeu. He made just 14 appearances across competitions last season, scoring one goal. The star player has been allowed to miss pre-season training to sort out his future. It would be Ancelotti's first major signing since taking charge in December.
Ancelotti is a huge admirer of Rodriguez and brought him to Real Madrid from Monaco in 2014 for a deal worth up to £71m. In 2017, Ancelotti got the Colombian to German giants Bayern. And now, the Italian is once again set to re-unite with the mid-fielder at Everton. Rodriguez is expected to sign a three-year deal at Everton.
Rodriguez made a total of 125 appearances for Real, scoring 37 goals. In between, the two-year stay at Bayern saw him score 15 goals in 67 matches. Rodriguez won nine trophies during his time at Real. He also won three trophies at Bayern. Ancelotti will hope to get the best out of Rodriguez and build the team around him.
Meanwhile, Everton have agreed a deal for Napoli's Allan. The fee for the Brazilian mid-fielder is £21.7m, plus an additional £2.6m in incentives. Napoli chairman Aureolio de Laurentis has confirmed Allan's move. "We are at the final farewell. Allan will go to Everton," he said.
