Rodrigo has become the latest Leeds United player to be linked with a summer transfer to Everton after their relegation.
Everton have yet to make a summer signing. But, if the rumour mill proves to be true, there’s a chance that the first new face through the Finch Farm door could come from former Premier League rivals Leeds United.
Everton secured their top-flight survival with a 1-0 win at home to Bournemouth on the final day of the season. But it proved to be last-game heartbreak for Leeds as they lost 4-1 at home to Tottenham Hotspur to have their relegation to the Championship rubber-stamped.
Since then the Whites have parted company with manager Sam Allardyce – who was brought in for the final four matches of the campaign – and agreed the sale of the club to 49ers Enterprises. While Allardyce’s successor has yet to be named, former Celtic head of football operations Nick Hammond has been appointed as the club’s interim football advisor. He will help Leeds with their summer recruitment as the search for a permanent director of football continues. That position is currently vacant after Victor Orta left the role at the back end of last season.
Orta has since took up a similar position at Sevilla, where he will replace Monchi, Aston Villa’s new president of football operations. And Orta is already being linked with a raid on Leeds for their Spain international forward Rodrigo, who scored 15 goals in 35 appearances last season.
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But according to Tutto Mercato Web, Everton are also interested in the 32-year-old. While rumours elsewhere this summer have suggested the Blues also like the look of Rodrigo’s Whites team-mates Jack Harrison, Wilfried Gnonto, Crysencio Summerville and Tyler Adams.
But according to Vamos Mi Sevilla, the deal to take Rodrigo back to La Liga is “almost 100 per cent closed.” However, Rodrigo’s father and representative Adalberto Machado has denied that’s the case.
“We have nothing firm,” he told ABC Sevilla. “I have known recently of interest, but not concrete.
“I have an appointment now with the people of the club (Leeds). We are going to fix all those issues and we will know soon.
“There is nothing fixed. But Sevilla, always. Sevilla will always be a team that will have our interest, obviously.”
It has been suggested that Rodrigo has a relegation release clause in his contract that could see him leave Leeds for £3m – four years after they paid Valencia £27m for his services.