Former Everton scout Pavel Kucherov admits he advised the Premier League outfit against signing Fedor Smolov when the Russian international was scoring goals for fun at Krasnodar, speaking to FanDay.
Considering how Smolov’s career progressed since netting 64 times in just 101 games at the Krasnodar Stadium, Kucherov’s advice looks particularly prescient in hindsight.
The now-32-year-old targetman found goals far harder to come by at Lokomotiv Moscow, after all. And his 14-game loan spell at Celta Vigo – Smolov’s only real stint in a major European league – was the very definition of ‘forgettable’.
According to Sky Sports, Krasnodar wanted around £12 million when Everton expressed an interest around five years ago; the Toffees eventually backing away after taking Kucherov’s comments on board.
Everton could have signed Russia international Fedor Smolov
“The work of a scout depends on communication with the sporting director. At Everton, they trusted me and listened to me. They often asked about football players from the countries of the former Soviet Union,” explains Kucherov, who also spent four years working behind the scenes at Arsenal.
“I remember they were interested in Smolov, when he played for Krasnodar. But I said that this profile of this player would not suit us.
“Moreover, it is not easy (for a player) to leave Russian clubs. Because they want to get two or even three times more for the players than they actually cost.”
Now back in Russia with Dynamo Moscow, Smolov has seven goals in 15 games this term. That is more than Neal Maupay, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Anthony Gordon have between them in 2022/23; the lack of a consistent goal threat one of a multitude of reasons why Everton find themselves level with bottom-placed Southampton midway through another tumultuous campaign.
Frank Lampard paid the ultimate price for that hapless 2-0 defeat at West Ham United, sacked on Monday afternoon. According to Sky, however, Lampard’s departure should not derail Everton’s hopes of luring Arnaut Danjuma back to the Premier League.
The Dutch international is arriving on loan from Villarreal. Formerly of Bournemouth, Danjuma scored 16 times in 32 games in 2021/22. And a short-term deal, without an obligation-to-buy, is an opportunity Everton would have been silly not to grasp, given their obvious short-comings and well-publicised financial problems.
Then again, this is Everton we’re talking about. The club where logic goes to die.
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