Everton boast a scattered transfer history, littered with multiple near-misses that still plague them today.
Some of the game’s top talents have likely been linked with a move to Merseyside at one point, and yet their failure to land these targets, instead opting for those they currently possess, is what has devolved the Toffees into a perennially relegation-threatened side.
Sean Dyche is seeking to shift that narrative, and has already made great strides towards building a brighter future whilst expunging the torrid past consisting of the woeful tenures of both Frank Lampard and Rafa Benitez.
The latter in particular was always a doomed appointment, yet Farhad Moshiri would go ahead, shocking Bill Kenwright.
However, had he secured one deal which Marcel Brands reportedly pushed for, things might have been so different.
As relayed by The Mirror, the Spaniard was handed all the necessary information with which to make an informed decision on the deal. It seemed a no-brainer, given how prolific the FC Porto winger had been.
However, the Dutchman has since voiced his frustrations on an awful period at Goodison Park, with this failure atop his list of grievances: ‘I wanted to install my philosophy and structure into the Club which would allow Everton to progress but decisions from above did not allow this.
‘In the Summer of 2021 we were looking to bring in Luis Diaz from Porto, I was working hard in making James Rodriguez go to Porto as part of the deal that would bring Diaz to the Club however Rafa Benitez (Everton Manager at the time) ruled against as he was unsure on the player.’
To make matters worse, Fabrizio Romano would even outline that the winger wanted ‘Everton as priority’.
How good is Luis Diaz?
Having since signed for Liverpool, in a deal worth an initial £37m, Everton have been forced to watch their own failure materialise just across Stanley Park, growing into one of Jurgen Klopp’s key men.
The Colombian posted seven goal contributions across his first 14 Premier League games after joining in January of 2022, having earned widespread praise for his dynamic trickery and proficiency in front of goal.
With three already this campaign in the league, there is precedent to believe that this will be his finest year in England yet, likely reliant on a positive outcome coming from the awful situation regarding his kidnapped father.
It is fair to say that Diaz, had Benitez signed him, would mark a much finer alternative to Jack Harrison nowadays.
Especially given the last two performances from the on-loan Leeds United dynamo, managing just 28 touches whilst completing an abysmal three passes in their recent draw with Brighton and Hove Albion. His showing against Burnley was no better.
He is a fine fit for Dyche’s system, but so too is the South American wizard, who blends an unrelenting work ethic with unparalleled quality at the elite level.
For all the bad things Benitez did for the club, snubbing Diaz is certainly up there as one of the worst.
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