Report: James Rodriguez agrees huge pay cut to join Everton

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Everton have agreed a deal to sign James Rodriguez from Real Madrid, according to reports,

The news was first reported by Colombian publication Gol Caracol, who claim that the deal is done and is just now awaiting confirmation. Indeed, it seems Everton could unveil James as a new signing as early as this morning, with a deadline of Thursday to finalise the process. 

The same news is now being reported by The Telegraph, who claim Everton have agreed a three-year contract with the Colombian.

Everton’s move to bring the playmaker to Goodison Park is set to be one of the transfer coups of the summer, with Rodriguez said to be very keen to work with Carlo Ancelotti again. The Everton boss signed James at both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich and is an admitted lover of the versatile attacker.

But perhaps the most surprising aspect of the deal will be the wages involved. 

Rodriguez was on a huge pay-packet at the Bernabeu and many wondered how Everton could afford a similar package.

It appears they will not have to. According to MARCA, James has agreed to cut his wages in half to make an Ancelotti reunion happen. James will be on approximately £77,000-a-week, compared to his apparent £150,000-a-week deal with Los Merengues. The report adds that this sacrifice will allow Everton to afford the signing of Allan from Napoli and his respective wages.

Of course, Everton fans will be hoping that Rodriguez will rediscover the form that once made him one of the world’s most wanted players. 

He has struggled for regular football at Real Madrid recently and has also been bothered by nagging knee injuries. But when fit and firing, there are not many more creative forces in the world game and Everton will be hoping they catch an Indian summer to the Colombian star’s career.