Everton must now re-sign former player and two-time Champions League winner James Rodriguez, who has been released by Greek outfit Olympiacos.
The Colombian international moved to Goodison Park to much fanfare for a fee of around £20m in the summer of 2020, as Carlo Ancelotti looked to rebuild his Everton side, though the ex-Real Madrid star departed Merseyside a year later, moving to Saudi side Al-Rayyan for an undisclosed fee.
Rodriguez’s journeyman phase continued, moving to the Greek capital in September 2022, but less than a season later, the Athenian side have released the 31-year-old as reported via journalist Fabrizio Romano’s Twitter account.
Rodriguez leaves Greece with five goals in 24 games in all competitions, also contributing six assists but his career has been plagued by injury. However, his ability makes him a luxury worth having, provided his wage demands are reasonable.
Indeed, Everton have struggled creatively this season with Alex Iwobi providing the most assists with seven in 33 games, leaving the Blues in a second successive scrap for Premier League survival.
James return to Everton would be a much welcomed reunion
An unlikely return to Goodison Park for James would certainly raise a few eyebrows, but with eight games remaining to secure Premier League safety, the creative Colombian could be a risk worth taking.
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Scoring six goals in 23 league games during his brief spell at Goodison Park, Rodriguez’s world class talent was immediately clear, and should the Blues offer a short-term contract, surely the attacker would be interested in a return to the Premier League.
It always felt as if there was unfinished business between Everton and James Rodriguez, with fans unable to see the player in the flesh due to the COVID-19 restrictions meaning games had to be played in empty stadiums during his spell at the Toffees.
Few would have thought that Sean Dyche would one day coach James Rodriguez, but stranger things have happened.