Everton turned down the chance to sign Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes, Aston Villa’s Diego Carlos and Real Madrid defender Eder Militao, super-agent Kia Joorabchian tells talkSPORT (25 January, 11.40pm).
Criticism of Everton’s recruitment during the Farhad Moshiri era tends to focus on who the club did sign rather than who they didn’t.
But where would the Toffees be right now if they had brought in Bruno Guimaraes from Athletico Paranaense, long before he would become a ‘world-class’, elite-level playmaker in the black-and-white of Newcastle United?
Everton also turned their nose up at Diego Carlos; the now-Aston Villa centre-back who developed into one of the continent’s best while winning the Europa League at Sevilla. Carlos moved to Spain the same summer Everton splashed out obscene sums on Moise Kean, Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Andre Gomes.
“We offered (Everton) Bruno Guimares for £16 million. They didn’t like him. And Bruno went on to Lyon,” recalls Joorabchian, who also offered the Toffees Brazil international Eder Militao before he became a Champions League winner at Real Madrid.
“Diego Carlos, we offered him at £11 million before he went to Sevilla. Eder Militao (is another).”
Everton’s loss is Newcastle United’s gain with Bruno Guimaraes
When quizzed on whether any of Joorabchian’s clients could join Everton before next week’s transfer deadline, the Iran-born businessman was emphatic.
“At this moment, we don’t have any players who would suit them,” Joorabchian says. “Otherwise we would offer them!”
It is far from certain, of course, that Guimaraes, Carlos or Militao would have fulfilled their potential at Goodison Park; so many talented players falling victim to the uncertainty and the never-ending mediocrity gripping Everton Football Club.
As Joorabchian points out, raw ability only goes so far. Most players need a settled environment and a coherent gameplan if they are to perform at the peak of their powers. Two things often lacking at Everton.
“Willian and Andreas Pereira have absolutely blossomed,” Joorabchian says of the Fulham duo. “In the summer, (Pereira) would not have fitted into Everton because, at that time, the coach had a different style. But he fits very well into Fulham.
“Willian, 99 per cent would have said he was finished when he left Arsenal. Yesterday, we got a call from two top clubs saying; ‘He’s like Peter Pan! How much would it cost (to sign him from Fulham)?’
“Joelinton at Newcastle, how he has blossomed under Eddie Howe. Bruno arriving into Newcastle and being one of the leading midfielders in the world today. Douglas Luiz at Aston Villa, another one of my clients, the way he’s evolving under Unai (Emery).”
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