Tottenham star Giovani Lo Celso claims Everton wanted to sign him as a youngster.
Giovani Lo Celso said “During my time with Rosario, there was interest from England, Everton were interested, but I was very young and my dream, and that of my family, was for me to begin my career in the first-team of Rosario Central, because it was my boyhood club. After that, of course, I considered the possibility of playing in Europe. I feel lucky that I have been able to fulfill my first dream of playing for Rosario.”
Everton’s director of football Marcel Brands has suggested the club were wasting their time trying to sign Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace last summer. Toffees were heavily linked with the £130,000-a-week (Spotrac) Ivorian forward towards the end of the window, but a move never materialized. The club ended up signing Alex Iwobi from Arsenal in a deal that could reportedly reach £34 million.
Marcel Brands said “Look at last summer, from the start there were a lot of rumours and news that we would like to take Zaha.And if you see our numbers then you know it is not realistic for Everton to buy a player for £60m, £70m, £80m.”
Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has strengthened his ties with Everton after paying £30million up front to secure an exclusive option on naming rights for the club’s proposed new stadium. A contract has already been agreed on a deal for the rights for the new ground and Usmanov’s £30m buys him first option of pursuing that at current market rates once the build is near completion.
Usmanov’s holding company USM already sponsors the club’s Finch Farm training ground and the Russian tycoon has now ploughed in further money with an agreement in place for the naming rights for Bramley-Moore Dock, which is scheduled to be completed by 2023.
Everton sign 17-year-old defender Jarrad Branthwaite from Carlisle. The 17-year-old has made 11 senior appearances for the Sky Bet League Two side this season. Branthwaite will link-up with David Unsworth’s Under-23 side and is excited to get started.
Jarrad Branthwaite said “The pathway is superb – that’s what made me want to join Everton,” he told Everton’s website. I want to settle in, get to know all the boys and put in some good performances for the Under-23s. My long-term goal, 100 per cent, is to play for Everton’s first team in front of the great crowds at Goodison. That would be my dream.”
