And anything can happen on the last night of the transfer window...whenever that is
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Kever10
Player Valuation: £20m
If he really wants to stay, then he should make that be known, both to Benitez and to fans. I don't think it needs to be this complicated.
I don't think any manager, including Benitez, would actively want to lose a fully committed player with his abilities. Which leads me to think if it is genuinely all up in the air and we are actively trying to find a buyer, it's literally because we cannot afford to keep him. By which I mean we cannot afford to keep the 1 saleable asset we have that we could potentially do without, or risk him walking for nothing in a year.
I'm sticking to my original assessment. James will either have a new club by September, or he will have signed the contract extension.
Gerbs
Player Valuation: £10m
While his teammates fought for Europe he flew a private jet back home. Why would anyone think he cares at all about Everton?
Attachments
Yes. It's a whole melodrama.
James was coming off of a huge first season where he had been named Best Midfielder in La Liga.
Carlo ghosted. Rafael came in. (Sound familiar)
James started the season amazing but then he hurt his calf. It took him a while to recover. During that time, Rafael's Madrid struggled. The press turned on Rafael.
While taking criticism, Rafael deflected and complained that James wasn't training hard. This pissed off James because he feared the smear would stick with him (read: IT DID)
James got called up and played a blinder for Colombia. In the post match, he took a shot at Rafael saying he had been training just fine and working to get back into top shape despite what people had heard.
It's been a cold war with them since. James has been carrying the reputation Rafael made for him in the press ever since. Even when Bayern disclosed that they had intended to buy out his loan until James himself (foolishly) asked them not to, the narrative became that he'd worn out his welcome not training hard enough...
If Benitez has told James he isn't going to play as media close to James have disclosed, I think James would take that very seriously and Everton fans should believe that Rafael would mean it.
James has started on IG that he intended to stay at Everton (prior to Rafael announcement). After Rafael told him he wouldn't be in his plans, James' camp leaked the news of that meeting to a friendly journo in Spain (with the specific call out that James wanted to stay at Everton). Rafael and Everton haven't refuted the story even though it would make sense for them to do so even if it were true (surely doesn't make it easier to move a player when other teams know he isn't wanted by his current manager).
little elfin
Player Valuation: £10m
Did he broke the rules or breached the laws when he flew back home last season?
It happened by common consent.
What is the big deal? lol
It happened by common consent.
What is the big deal? lol
Sassy Colombian
Member: Team PoP
I was the first one to criticize that picture that he posted but the lad was injured as it was confirmed by Colombia's NT doctors which is the reason he didn't play during the qualifying matches or Copa America. Everton may not be the team of his heart that doesn't mean he wasn't committed to finishing his contract and giving his best when healthy.
Kever10
Player Valuation: £20m
Everton don't make a habit of commenting on any stories released in the press. If they did, they would be refuting stories left right and centre. They tend to take sly shots at them to undermine them in other ways, like putting James front and centre on all advertising for the Florida Cup, which you may rightly point out is aimed at the Latin Market. But that wouldn't explain why they have him front and centre on artwork inside the club shops, something they didn't didn't even do last season when we signed him.
You may be right about James leaking stuff to the press, but to be fair, like I pointed out the other day, James saying he is happy to stay, and James wanting to stay are 2 very different things. My point being that if James wants to see his contract out and walk away next summer in a World Cup Year, that does not do Everton any good whatsoever when he is currently 1 of maybe 4 players we could actually make an accounting profit on.
If Benitez wants him gone, I can't see it being because of grudge from way back when. I would hope they would both be professionals about that.
it will be because he has been told that if he wants to being anyone in, it will be after 1 of those profit players is moved on, and with Kean and PSG looking like a stalemate, that leaves James, Digne and Richarlison.
Oh mate. The FIRST time Rafael had a chance to talk about James this summer, he stuck in the knife and said he was out of shape. He caveated and could say he was out of context, but he's no idiot and knew what he was doing.
Consider the chronology:
- James says he wants to stay at Everton.
- Rafael is hired.
- They meet and (according to James friendly journo,) Rafael says James needs to go.
- Rafael says he is out of shape at press conference. Benches James for game two of Florida Cup.
- James friendly journo leaks story about meeting and that James wanted to stay at Everton but is getting booted
- James on two sep occasions tells people on social media that he doesnt know where he will be because he can't stay somewhere he isn't wanted
Years ago, Colombia fans thought to themselves - these people are professionals, it's Real Madrid! He's the best midfielder in the league, the World Cup golden boot, surely they will put their hand bags down and sort this.... I don't have much hope now.
Zatara
Player Valuation: £100m
Begovic, Gray and Townsend
OR
James
Its not a hard decision.
The club have an option for a 3rd season. We should be able to trigger it any time and he wouldnt need to sign anything.
sageyefc
Player Valuation: £90m
Again, why should he have stuck around to see us get battered by city. Season was over, he was injured, let him get off to see his kids
Indeed, when you have people who think this, there’s no hope for our club. Talent doesn’t matter anymore
Jacko93
Player Valuation: £35m
Because he was as much use on that plane as he would have been sat on the sidelines. We all took the mick when the RS wheeled out an unfit VVD for the derby.
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