“Doesn’t convince me” – Everton transfer strategy seen as a sign of “economic weakness”

If Everton fans were wondering why their club would sign Wesley to then loan him to Roma, it seems they’re not the only ones. They’re equally unconvinced in Italy.

That’s at least if comments from journalists Lorenzo Pes and Piero Torri are to be believed, with Forza Roma providing them today.

They have a roundup of various comments from journalists appearing on various radio stations to discuss the transfer idea today.

A report yesterday stated that Everton and Roma could be set to do business together this summer to get right-back Wesley to Italy. The idea presented was that Everton would sign him for €30m, then loan him to Roma for a season in a deal with an obligation to buy.

That was explained in reports today, with Corriere dello Sport stating that Roma’s idea would be to use Everton’s finances to dodge Financial Fair Play rules this summer. We did point out, though, that the deal would make absolutely no sense for Everton in its current format.

And it seems that’s the feeling in Italy too, with Torri questioning how it would work and insisting that he’s not convinced by the idea in the slightest.

“Wesley? I would like to understand the terms of this possible agreement, I’m not convinced at all,” he is quoted saying on Radio Manà Manà Sport – 90.3.

“Everton is a strong club, representative of the richest football there is at the moment, and if they want to, they can just slap you in the face and say goodbye.

“Then, if there is a guarantee that they can buy him back, that’s one thing, but otherwise it’s a deal that I don’t like, I’m not convinced by it, and it confirms Roma’s financial weakness.

“And it risks becoming a boomerang. Among other things, Wesley doesn’t seem like Cafu to me: I would never spend €25m on him.”

Pes, meanwhile, insists the idea is only being floated because Roma don’t have the money to buy Wesley this summer, so would use Everton to delay it for the time being.

“The right wing is the most exposed position, neither Rensch nor Celik are full-backs, which is why Gasp considers it a priority and wants a top-level starter,” he said on Tele Radio Stereo – 92.7.

“Since Roma can’t spend €30m on a single player, they’re doing this deal for Wesley: they’re taking him from Everton for a year to see what kind of player he is. Then, in a year’s time, when FPF is no longer an issue, if I want to keep him, maybe I can.

“If, on the other hand, he doesn’t prove himself, I’ll send him back and get someone else. They like the player and are interested in him, but they can’t afford him at that price, so this is the only way to do it.”