Juventus could offer Aaron Ramsey to Everton as part of a swap deal that would see Allan return to Serie A, reporter Fabio Santini has said in quotes reported by AreaNapoli.
We aren’t questioning the legitimacy of those claims – Ramsey doesn’t appear to have a future in Turin while Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri knows and admires Allan from his time at Napoli – but it’s hard to imagine Rafa Benitez would be quite so keen on a player exchange that makes little sense from a Toffees perspective.
After all, Allan is one of the first names on the Everton team sheet, their first-choice defensive midfielder and is integral to the balance and solidity of the Benitez blueprint.
Ramsey, meanwhile, turns 31 in December.
He’s suffered his fair share of injuries over the years too and, since completing a shock move from Arsenal to Juventus in summer 2019, has started a grand total of 25 league games.
And haven’t Everton had their fair share of overpriced, overpaid, underperforming 30-somethings?
“Allegri asked a footballer who they know very well in Napoli because he played excellently (at the Stadio San Paolo). I refer to Allan,” says Santini, before adding Wales international Ramsey could be used as a makeweight in the deal.
Ramsey would prefer Everton move but Allan is Toffees’ lynchpin
Last week, TuttoJuve reported Ramsey would prefer Everton to the likes of West Ham and Newcastle United.
What’s more, a Juventus side desperate to get his £115,000-a-week pay packet off the wage bill are willing to accept a knock-down fee of £4 million.
This new-look Everton side, however, has found plenty of success in a hard-working, aggressive style of play revolving around rapid-fire counters and dogged discipline out of possession.
The ageing, injury-hit Ramsey is hardly a natural fit for such an approach.
Furthermore, given his reputation as a goalscoring midfielder, it may come as a surprise to learn he’s found the net just 28 times in his 184 Premier League and Serie A appearances since 2014/15.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
