Everton are close to needing to find a new solution to their problem at left-back after it emerged that one attractive target is on the brink of heading to La Liga.
Following the deal to buy centre-back Jake O’Brien from Lyon Sky Sports journalist Alan Myers reported via X on 30 July that a left-back was next on the agenda at Goodison Park.
The Toffees currently have just Vitalii Mykolenko as a specialist with 39-year-old Ashley Young as cover, and the Ukranian has suffered a series of injury issues in recent months.
Sean Dyche in search of Everton cover for Vitalii Mykolenko
Football Transfers reported on 29 July that Swiss international Ricardo Rodriguez was an Everton target amid competition from Italian champions Inter, after the full-back left Torino on a free transfer.
But Fabrizio Romano has now reported via X on 3 August that the 120-cap veteran is set to travel to Real Betis for a medical ahead of signing a two-year contract in the south of Spain.
With the financial situation currently stable at Goodison but the longer-term outlook far more uncertain [Kieran Maguire, 31 August] in the wake of the Dan Friedkin takeover collapse a capable free agent looked like a very affordable option for Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell to pursue.
Inter had even been knocked out of the running after Romano reported on 29 July that the club’s new owners had blocked manager Simone Inzaghi from landing his “perfect” left-back option because he is 31.
But whether the interest from the Everton hierarchy wasn’t strong enough or the offer in La Liga was something they couldn’t compete with it looks like the opportunity has gone begging.
The transfer window has been more positive than many would have feared up to this point, but how fans feel about it as a whole will depend on what happens in terms of incomings and outgoings between now and 30 August.