Report: Carlo Ancelotti wants to sign James Rodriguez for Everton

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Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti is ready to make a statement in January – by moving for Real Madrid star James Rodriguez.

According to El Desmarque, the Italian is keen to use his pedigree to land the Colombia international, who is currently out with a knee injury.

The South American attacking midfielder – who cost Madrid £71 million in 2014 (BBC Sport) – is understood to have been deemed surplus to requirements, with Zinedine Zidane keener to use the likes of Luka Modric, Fede Valverde and Isco.

Apparently Everton are preparing a €50 million/£43 million offer for Rodriguez, who spent two years on loan at Bayern Munich before returning to the Bernabeu this summer.

Ancelotti, of course, previously managed the Bavarians and knows the abilities of Rodriguez quite well.

TBR’s view – A statement signing

Certainly Rodriquez has underwhelmed over the past few years, but he would definitely still be a major signing for Everton.

He needs a move away from Real where it hasn’t worked out, and teaming up with Ancelotti at Goodison Park could be the move he needs to get his career back on track.

At Everton, Rodriguez would get to become the main man he perhaps feels he needs to be.

At present Gylfi Sigurdsson is struggling and ageing, and Alex Iwobi as a number 10 just hasn’t worked out, so Rodriguez could be a real coup.