Pundit claims Everton need to get James ‘out the door ASAP’
Former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has said that Everton must get James Rodriguez “out the door as soon as possible” if he is not part of Rafael Benitez’s plans.
Kenny is speaking following a report that claims James and Fabian Delph are free to leave Goodison Park this summer.
Rodriguez moved to Goodison Park last summer when the Toffees were busy in the transfer market, also signing Allan, Ben Godfrey and Abdoulaye Doucoure.
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The Colombia international impressed early in on his debut season for Everton, with six goals and nine assists, but he missed a number of matches through injury and his form waned towards the end of the campaign.
Carlo Ancelotti left the club to rejoin Real Madrid earlier this month and Rodriguez looks likely to follow him in departing Everton.
It was reported in June that Everton have financial fair play ‘concerns’ and they may have to shift some of their high earners, like Rodriguez.
The 30-year-old’s contract expires next June and he has admitted he does not know where his future lies.
And now Kenny has claimed that the Toffees should try and sell James this month to free up his “huge wages”.
“They need to get him out the door as soon as possible,” he told Football Insider.
“Obviously he’ll be on big wages so it might be a difficult one. But if he’s not in Benitez’s plans then there’s no point in having him sitting around.
“I’m sure the player won’t want to be there if he isn’t going to be playing. So it would suit everyone for him to move on.
“Like I said, he’s on huge wages so it could be difficult to get rid of him when he’s only been there 12 months.
“It’s a shame because I was looking forward to watching him in the Premier League, but things change.”
Elsewhere, Seamus Coleman has insisted that there are “more leaders across the squad” and he has picked out three candidates to replace him as Everton captain.
The 32-year-old believes that Tom Davies, Ben Godrey and Mason Holgate could take over from him in the future:
“Slowly but surely, we are gathering some more leaders across the squad.
“The younger lads are coming in. Tom [Davies] has captained the Club numerous times, Mason [Holgate] has captained the Club and is a loud voice in the dressing room.
“Ben Godfrey has come in and is an unbelievable character with a lot of leadership qualities.”