Your Everton evening headlines for Monday, December 19.
Everton 'signing' Juan Roman Riquelme hails Lionel Messi's World Cup win
With Juan Roman Riquelme taking to social media to congratulate Lionel Messi on his World Cup win, Evertonians have been reminded of another long-running saga – the repeated speculation that the Argentinian playmaker was heading to Goodison Park.
Riquelme – who was Messi’s idol as a youngster before he replaced him as number 10 for the national side – offered his thanks in an Instagram post after Argentina secured their third World Cup success with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory over holders France following a thrilling 3-3 draw.
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Messi netted twice in the game to ensure he scored in every round of the 2022 finals in Qatar before lifting the trophy with the added bonus of being the Golden Ball winner as player of the tournament with Riquelme hailing the World Cup as being the missing trophy in the 35-year-old’s collection. Back in the noughties, Riquelme to Everton was the transfer rumour that would not go away.
Window after window, the attacking midfielder was linked with a move to the Blues. Whenever deadline day arrived, it was invariably claimed that there had been various sightings of Riquelme across Merseyside whether it was at John Lennon Airport or coming out of the Hot Wok. Now 44, the San Fernando-born player who is back at his first club Boca Juniors as vice president having hung up his boots in 2015, only got to play at Goodison once in his career and that was in opposition for Villarreal in a Champions League qualifying round tie in 2005.
Chris Beesley has the full story here .
Everton have five players who could leave in January transfer window
The January transfer window is just weeks away from opening for business.
For Everton, that represents a chance to strengthen a squad that has had its momentum checked in recent months after a solid start to the season. The Blues currently find themselves one point above the relegation zone.
It is no secret that Everton are working under financial restrictions. Every penny needs to be spent carefully and this January window already has a huge feeling about it.
So it would be no surprise to see Lampard try and offload some fringe players next month in a bid to raise funds and trim the wage bill. Salomon Rondon has already left Everton after reaching an agreement to terminate his contract six months before it was due to expire.
Connor O'Neill has the full story here.
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