Everton’s financial restrictions have led to some truly creative workarounds to continue bolstering the team.
After all, having endured back-to-back relegation battles, Kevin Thelwell and Sean Dyche could not allow the side to stand still.
It needed improvements, but in a way that kept them within the Premier League’s profit and sustainability threshold. Although they have been found in breach of these, it remains to be seen whether anything will come of that alleged guilty verdict.
The likes of Beto and Dwight McNeil, whilst big outlays, were brought in purely because they could do so with deferred payments, pushing the finances into the future.
Well, the same might have to be done this January to enjoy any success…
Who could Everton sign this January?
With links to the likes of Frank Onyeka and Tom Fellows, it is hardly an outstanding pool of options for the cash-strapped Toffees.
However, reports do continue to emerge, some more convincing than others.
This latest one though, from The Standard, details a whole host of suitors all vying to pry Jhon Cordoba from FC Krasnodar
More well known for his exploits in Germany for FC Koln, the report details the £7m fee that would be needed to secure his services. However, it also suggests it would not be required until the summer.
Therefore, another clever PSR workaround emerges for Thelwell to potentially explore.
Who is Jhon Cordoba?
Having seen his stock plummet since his move to Krasnador, mainly due to the lack of eyes on him rather than the quality of performances, there remains a top player in Cordoba just waiting for a return to one of Europe’s top five leagues.
After all, he enjoyed many years in Germany, predominantly with FC Koln, but also for Hertha Berlin and Mainz.
During his three-year spell with the former, the Colombian marksman scored 37 goals and assisted a further eight across just 86 appearances.
Well, his time in Russia has seen him post an even better goal contributions rate, with 38 goals and 18 assists from a mere 73 appearances.
Standing at 6 foot 2, so boasting the required physicality to thrive within Dyche’s system, he has even drawn comparisons to one of England’s most iconic strikers ever.
The Bundesliga website once wrote: ‘Cordoba is on record saying that former Chelsea forward Didier Drogba was his favourite player when growing up, and the hours he spent watching him on television are certainly reflected in the way he plays.
A physically imposing forward, Cordoba is able to hold the ball up as a lone striker, but also has the speed and strength to outrun his markers to make goals for himself.’
If he enjoys half as much success as the Ivory Coast legend did when facing Everton, this is sure to be a move worth making.
