According to a transfer ‘exclusive’ from TEAMtalk, Rafa Benitez will make a move for Everton midfield James McCarthy if he signs a new deal at St James’ Park this summer.
The piece states that Benitez is looking for midfielders ahead of Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden’s expected exits, and McCarthy is a player he’s been linked with on several occasions over the past few seasons – suggesting he may be a long-term admirer of the former Wigan star.
The fact he’s 28 (too old for Ashley?) and injury prone leaves me highly sceptical of this latest transfer link, but here’s a snippet from TEAMtalk’s piece:
‘Rafa Benitez is ready to make a move for an Everton midfielder, if he remains at Newcastle this summer, we can reveal.
‘Benitez is braced to lose midfielders Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden this summer, but he feels that Republic of Ireland and Everton ace James McCarthy could help cover their loss.
‘McCarthy is back to full fitness after an injury-ridden 18 months on Merseyside and is looking to leave Everton, with Marco Silva not seeing him as part of his long-term plans at Goodison Park.‘
I have trouble believing TEAMtalk here – the same outlet who wrote a recent ‘exclusive’ stating we were eyeing a £10m deal for a 30-year-old, injury prone Yannick Bolasie.
The above deal sounded so unlikely under Mike Ashley and a move for McCarthy sounds similarly dubious, with the Irish midfielder turning 29 later this year, likely to be in decent wages and being a player who’s barely been fit over the past 18 months – playing just 4 times in the Premier League in 2 years.
Hopefully a takeover goes through and we are no longer scrapping the barrel for injury-prone Everton outcasts.
