Carlo Ancelotti actually wanted 496-goal striker to be his first Everton signing in 2019

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Carlo Ancelotti arrived at Everton in December 2019 with great fanfare.

After sacking Marco Silva, Farhad Moshiri and his Everton chiefs pulled off a major coup to appoint serial winner Carlo Ancelotti.

“There is a clear vision from the owner and the board to deliver trophies,” Ancelotti explained in his first interview.

“That is something that appeals to me as a manager. I am thrilled at the prospect of being able to work with everybody at the club to help make that vision a reality.”

The Italian head coach was keen to make a statement in his first transfer window and wanted one of the best strikers of all time to join the Toffees.

• READ MORE: Everton’s most valuable player is now worth £52m, he joined for a fraction of that

Carlo Ancelotti wanted Zlatan Ibrahimovic to be his first Everton signing

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, via Sky Sports, Ancelotti wanted Zlatan Ibrahimovic to become his first Everton signing.

At the time, Ibrahimovic had come off the back of a sensational season in the MLS with LA Galaxy, netting 31 goals in as many games.

The former Manchester United striker was available on a free transfer once the 2020 January transfer window opened, and it was reported that he was interested in working with Ancelotti on Merseyside.

However, for whatever reason, Everton couldn’t get the deal done, and he ended up joining Serie A giants AC Milan.

Ibrahimovic scored 11 goals in 17 starts for Milan that season, evincing he still had plenty left to offer at the elite level.

He retired three years later, ending his career with a whopping 496 goals.

Who did Everton sign in January 2020?

Whilst they didn’t manage to get Ibrahimovic to Finch Farm, it turned out to be a productive winter window, though, many didn’t know it at the time.

The Toffees only signed one player, and it was a teenager from Carlisle United called Jarrad Branthwaite, who joined in a £1m transfer.

Then 17-year-old Branthwaite was seen as one for the future, but few would’ve predicted him to establish himself as one of the best in the Premier League a few years later.

Branthwaite is now Everton’s most valuable player, as per the latest figures from the CIES Football Observatory.

They value him at around £52m.