Inter Milan have blocked their manager from signing Ricardo Rodriguez amid interest from Everton in the free agent full-back, according to Fabrizio Romano. On The Debrief for Caught Offside on July 29, Romano reported that Simone Inzaghi considered the Swiss international the “perfect” back-up option for the Italian champions. However, the new owners at Inter have a policy against bringing in players over 30.
Despite the speculation, Everton has yet to make a formal proposal for the 31-year-old Rodriguez. Instead, the club’s efforts are focused on securing a deal for Lyon centre-back Jake O’Brien. Football Transfers also reported on July 29 that Everton faced “stiff competition” from Inter for Rodriguez. However, Romano noted that Rodriguez also has interest from Real Betis in La Liga and several clubs in Saudi Arabia.
As Everton works on finalizing the O’Brien signing, bringing in Rodriguez could still be beneficial. With Vitalii Mykolenko as the only specialist left-back in the senior squad and his recent fitness issues, adding depth to that position is essential. Rodriguez, despite being deemed too old for Inter, is considerably younger than 39-year-old Ashley Young, who might be relied on to cover the position.
If Inter, the Serie A champions, are indeed out of the race, it could be advantageous for Everton. Competing with a club that offers Champions League football would have been challenging. While interest from Saudi clubs doesn’t carry the same financial clout as it did a year ago, their spending power remains a significant factor.
It remains to be seen whether Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell will turn their attention to Rodriguez once the O’Brien deal is completed. However, as an experienced and affordable option for a position of need, Rodriguez presents an attractive proposition for the Toffees.
