Rafa Benitez has highlighted a particular area Everton need to improve in the transfer market, but reiterated the need to stay within financial rules this summer.
Rafa Benitez said: “Here you have a lot of professionals. They know the squad, they know the team. You can see the fans. It is very easy to see that we have a great centre-forward. He’s very good in the air, he can score goals. But we have to provide him with good crosses, good passes. We can improve in these areas and, from the wide areas, the crosses will come. When we can do that, the team will be a little bit better. Depending a lot on the financial situation because Financial Fair Play is there. You have to follow these rules but we have to bring what we need. We have to be ambitious but at the same time, we have to manage the situation. We maybe have some players that have to leave. If they leave, it will give us more chances to approach other players and improve the squad.”
Financial Fair Play regulations are something that Benitez is clearly aware of, however. Everton have regularly spent a lot of money on new signings in past transfer windows, with the concern among some that it might restrict the opportunities to splash more cash going forward. The new boss is prepared for any eventuality, however, and is keen to maximise what the club can do regardless.
Rafa Benitez added: “Everybody knows that this club has spent a lot of money in the last few years so that means that Financial Fair Play is there, so you have to respect the rules and you have to manage in the best way possible. If you have players with big salaries that normally aren’t playing then you want to find a solution and this solution will mean you have money to spend on new players. So this is something that is very common in modern football now with these restrictions, so we will try to maximise what we have and manage the best way possible to be sure we can bring quality and players that will make the squad strong.”
Farhad Moshiri has been known to give his managers a lot of trust and backing in the transfer market in the past. When asked if he had received assurances that he would receive the backing to match his ambition, Benitez had an interesting response which turned the situation on its head.
Rafa Benitez said: “I will say this another way around. I have to match the ambitions of the owners. They are very ambitious. They want to do well.Every conversation I have had with anyone of the board, they want to be successful and they want to improve. The new stadium is coming. There are so many things that means the club wants to be and has to be successful. I will try to do that. When you talk with them, it is something that everyone has to agree – we need to improve the squad, improve the team. But, at the same time, my job is to improve the players. To give them the belief and the physical condition to make them believe they can compete. If we can improve and bring in players, it will be perfect. The owners and the board are happy with that and they are trying to do that.”
The future of James Rodriguez is still seemingly up in the air as rumours continue to swirl around the Colombia playmaker. Carlo Ancelotti was pivotal in bringing the 30-year-old to Goodison Park last summer, and many reports have suggested that the former Real Madrid man could depart after the exit of the Italian. However, Benitez again made clear that he did not want to comment on individuals for the time-being, and he will take time to assess his squad “little-by-little.”
Rafa Benitez added: “I don’t like to talk about individuals, obviously I have had a lot of conversations with a lot of players. Still it is soon because we have to play some games and then you will know the players a little better. You have a lot of information, you know how they performed in competition. It is just a question of some time and little by little you will see how the team and how the squad is going on and the players will then know then what I am thinking about his future.”
