Ancelotti pours cold water on transfer speculation

Monday, 20 January, 2020 39comments  |  Jump to most recent

Carlo Ancelotti has rejected talk that Everton are interested in signing Emre Can from Juventus this month, insisting again that there is nothing to the links made in the media between various players and the Toffees.

The Italian was asked about speculation around bids for certain players during his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of Saturday's 1-1 draw with West Ham and he suggested that all of the names being raised in the newspapers were wrong.

Ancelotti was asked specifically about Can by Sky Sports's Vinny O'Connor and he smiled while restating what he has said a few days ago.

"I think at the last press conference I said that all the names that were [in] the newspapers were wrong.

"I can say the same today — they are wrong. All the names that were [in] the newspapers are wrong. All the names that are on Sky are wrong."

Ancelotti has indicated already this month that he and Director of Football, Marcel Brands, are continually looking to see how and if the squad can be improved and that if the right opportunity arose this month, they would consider it.

 

Reader Comments (39)

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Colin Glassar
1 Posted 20/01/2020 at 19:05:07
In other words, another 11:55pm failure? We tried our best, we were very close, these things happen etc. Not too bothered really. We'll just muddle along until the summer... as usual.
Kevin Day
3 Posted 20/01/2020 at 19:17:48
Robert @2

Extremely wise words indeed.

Oliver Molloy
4 Posted 20/01/2020 at 19:20:03
Colin,

The only way we should be signing anyone in this window is if they will 100% make a difference to the team – better than what we have, otherwise why bother.

Much better to "muddle along" than make more expensive mistakes in my opinion.

Rob Marsh
5 Posted 20/01/2020 at 19:28:06
Colin # 1,

It's well and truly a seller's market in January, we shouldn't be spending silly money when we can get a better deal in the summer with much more choice and hopefully also do some serious offloading at the same time.

We should be able to find 10 pts (even at our worst?) out of the remaining 15 games. There's only the Europa to aim for and that next season will drain us combined with the other 3 competitions, the squad and first team isn't up to it.

Let's use this season and next to build for the future.

Having said what I've said, if there's any Gana Gueye types out there for £8m we should be in there.

I don't feel I'm being negative, but just realistic.

Joe McMahon
6 Posted 20/01/2020 at 19:29:54
Well we know on this occasion Moutinho won't be mentioned, not sure about Lee Trundle though.
Roger Helm
7 Posted 20/01/2020 at 19:39:21
We have wasted so much money on duff signings, I would be happier if Ancelotti takes time to decide for sure what he needs in the summer, unless he can find a decent midfielder to loan for the rest of the season. It is not likely that we are in danger of relegation, or qualifying for Europe.
Robert Tressell
8 Posted 20/01/2020 at 19:46:02
Possibly for the best re Can. It's nice to sign players – and on paper he's an improvement – but he could have ended up being yet more undermotivated overpaid crap. Maybe more youthful hungry players are being targetted. Maybe no-one is being targetted. Maybe Matt Targett is being targetted.
Martin Berry
9 Posted 20/01/2020 at 19:47:03
Carlo is playing his cards close to his chest and who blames him?

However what Marcel Brands said last week is that Carlo likes 4-4-2 and with that in mind they would be looking for a right-sided player.

Obviously Walcott being hauled off against West Ham and Sidibe pressed into the role emphasizes the need to address this problem, therefore if we bring in anyone at all then I expect someone in to cover this.

Ryan Holroyd
10 Posted 20/01/2020 at 19:51:45
I wouldn't buy anyone in January and would Save money until the summer. Buying in January doesn't tend to work out. Hopefully Gbamin and Gomes will be back shortly and we've only got 4 games in 6 week's so plenty of time to get injured players back. Let Ancelotti improve the likes of Calvert-Lewin, Kean, Iwobi, Holgate, get Gomes and Gbamin back fit. We're not going down and not getting top 4 anyway.
Colin Glassar
11 Posted 20/01/2020 at 20:07:53
Guys, I’m not complaining. I’d like someone. Expected someone. But I’m not surprised if we don’t get anyone. The January window is a joke.
Steve Ferns
12 Posted 20/01/2020 at 20:19:49
Colin, it's going to be last minute. We don't want any Tom, Dick or Harry. We want quality.

Brands will be working closely with Ancelotti. They will be waiting until the last minute for our target(s) to say Yes.

The reason we wait, is not because we want to, it's that our players want to. Think Sissoko who said Yes, then last-minute signed for Spurs... or Giroud who last minute said No.

Until we have Champions League football, we cannot get the top quality players and even the promising ones will see other clubs as more attractive.

Jimmy Hogg
13 Posted 20/01/2020 at 20:38:07
We need quality as we already have quantity, most of it dross.

This window is just about keeping the Sky yellow-tie brigade in a job.

We need to get top players in early pre-season, not 3 weeks after the season has started. Keep any money we have until it can be used correctly.

Nigel Munford
14 Posted 20/01/2020 at 20:46:20
Well, I'm certainly relieved with this news.
Andrew Ellams
15 Posted 20/01/2020 at 20:50:23
A couple of loans will do me to see out the season; then let's see what happens in the summer.

How much would Tyrone Mings cost?

Geoff Lambert
16 Posted 20/01/2020 at 20:58:48
I have just seen Edinson Cavani in the KFC on County Road.

'Appy days...

Kevin Prytherch
17 Posted 20/01/2020 at 20:59:42
Where do we honestly desperately need players at the moment??

Keeper - we're not going to get better than Pickford at present

Full backs - don't need

Centre-back - Holgate partnered with Mina or Keane. Buying anyone here just hampers Gibson's development

Midfield - with Sigurdsson and Gbamin to come back soon to join Davies, Delph and Schneiderlin. This area is surely 1 in 1 out.

Left wing - Bernard, Gordon and possibly Iwobi.

Right wing - I'd say this is the only area as Walcott doesn't cut it and Sidibé is surely a stop-gap.

Up front - 2 out of Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin and Kean. Anyone else would simply block Kean.

I'm with the view that we only need a right midfielder at this stage and can cope to the summer when we try and ship out some of the overpaid and underperforming players.

Steve Ferns
18 Posted 20/01/2020 at 21:11:00
Kevin, we do need a centre-back in case of injury, unless Carlo thinks Gibson is good enough to actually play regularly.

As for centre-midfielder, we definitely needed one, but then we shifted from 3 in the middle to 2. If we stick with just 2, then yes we are ok numerically. But that counts on Gomes and Gbamin coming back. So, I'd hold fire unless we can get a quality loan.

Wingers / wide midfielders: Gordon is right-footed and can play there. Iwobi can only play wide for Carlo Ancelotti, he's right-footed. So is Bernard. That all three like playing on the left comes from playing as left forwards, cutting inside on their right. They aren't playing left forward, they would be playing left midfield, and so it might be prudent to actually sign a left-footed wide man, if we switch back to 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, then the left-footer can always go play right wing and cut inside on his left. Our old friend Malcolm is such a player.

Malcolm, by the way, signed for Zenit in the summer, played two games and got injured. He has a hip injury that "feels okay one day and not the next" (source: Link). Sounds a bit dodgy to me. He's a bit dodgy too, going there, but if the price is right, might be worth a punt, and he's still only 22.

Jon Withey
19 Posted 20/01/2020 at 21:13:13
Buy some players with hunger please.
John Reynolds
20 Posted 20/01/2020 at 21:15:07
Hang tight. Get safe. Experiment over the closing stages of the season. Identify summer targets. Offload as many as possible. Buy with care.
Phil Malone Jnr
21 Posted 20/01/2020 at 21:30:21
Loan with the option to buy seems the most likely solution in January. I do believe we’ll have a trick up our sleeve somewhere closer to the deadline. but only a permanent transfer if it’s someone that isn’t brought in to salvage this season that we pay over the odds for.
Conor McCourt
22 Posted 20/01/2020 at 21:43:42
Robert 8- you've hit the bullseye with Targett.

Steve 12-speak for yourself
I want young Tom here
There are a few dicks I don't want
But if we had Harry instead of Brands we would have no problems shifting those dicks with a few phone calls.

Steve Ferns
23 Posted 20/01/2020 at 21:58:36
Superb Conor!
Tony Everan
24 Posted 20/01/2020 at 22:04:23
I think we will do some groundwork to sign a CM but it will be a last day job. I hope we don't get blackmailed and suckered into buying someone we want to loan.

As what happened with Rojo in the summer, the club walked away from the deal rather than bowing to Man Utd, 'who thought they had us over a barrel.

As a result Holgate got his opportunity and that has become one of the few highlights of our season for me.

Derek Thomas
26 Posted 20/01/2020 at 22:06:20
John and Phil @ 21&22. Spot on...pretty much close thread, you've said it all.

Edit: then let Brands and Ancelotti try to sort any wheat from the January chaff.

Nobody overpriced, too old or wants mega wages.

Anthony Murphy
27 Posted 20/01/2020 at 22:30:40
If we bring in anyone, let’s make sure they know how to contribute a goal or two.
Fran Mitchell
28 Posted 20/01/2020 at 23:24:05
Just seen one time Everton linkee Reinar Jesus being the latest in Real.Madrid's signing of young players from Latin America far too early.
Conor Skelly
29 Posted 20/01/2020 at 23:26:19
I agree with Steve. I think we'll be after a left-footed player who likes to play off the right. I think we will get a loan, in any event, to appease the fans. The position won't matter as we need to strengthen everywhere.

Mark Andersson
30 Posted 20/01/2020 at 23:48:31
We don't need anymore players to stay mid table were we belong...

Liverpool 3 tears ago were avrage they got Klopp gave him time and now there reaping the benifits..

By the time we are doing the same with Carlo they will be moving in the opposite direction...

Alan Johnson
31 Posted 20/01/2020 at 00:01:03
Richarlison. Sigurdsson ( injured ) The only two players we could get decent money for... Just saying?
Alan J Thompson
32 Posted 21/01/2020 at 03:02:01
I think that what is not being said is more likely a reason why we won't sign anyone until the financial year ends, FFP and the Accounts.
Danny O'Neill
33 Posted 21/01/2020 at 03:26:19
Always cautious about the January window. Paying ridiculous fees for the likes of Tosun & Walcott are good examples. Unless it's a genuine steal or opportunity, hang out until the summer. As others have said above, we won't go down & conversely, the season is done. Somewhere between 8th & 13th it is; we can achieve that with this squad so don't go wasting money unless it's a genuine improvement or investment for next season.
John Zapa
34 Posted 21/01/2020 at 06:44:05
There just isn't the funds available for a £30m signing on £120k+ per week at the moment. I would be very surprised if this transfer window ended with anything more than a loan signing and minor fee youngsters.
Paul Smith
35 Posted 21/01/2020 at 06:49:38
Absolutely no point in signing anyone unless its a bolt from the blue like Carlo Magnifico lol.

We won't go down, won't win anything, outside chance of Europe. Lets just get used to Carlo and vice versa.

Recruit in the summer.

Jim Bennings
36 Posted 21/01/2020 at 07:40:10
All we managed to produce in the summer window last year were underwhelming signings so I don’t really know why people think this January window will throw anything great about.

James Newcombe
37 Posted 21/01/2020 at 13:53:17
I’d try and sign some hungry players from the Championship such as Bowen from Hull. Then again I thought we should have picked up Che Adams in the summer, and that’s not really worked out!
John Pickles
38 Posted 21/01/2020 at 14:01:36
I hope he does manage a few signings this month, all of them new scouts, and kick out the ones responsible for recommending the last few years dross.
Jerome Shields
39 Posted 21/01/2020 at 17:16:19
Glad that Ancelotti is keeping the squad at Finch Farm during the winter break. I have always advocated a cold weather break, no skiing rather than a warm weather break for Everton players. I hope it is freezing, blowy and raining during the winter break at Finch Farm.
Tony Everan
40 Posted 21/01/2020 at 18:56:36
No Club La Manga break but Carlo has ordered a couple of Pifco fan heaters to make FF feel like the Caribbean.
Justin Doone
41 Posted 21/01/2020 at 22:02:46
We should always be on the lookout for players that can improve the first team and bringing them in no matter the time of year.

Not easy, but a real winger that can go past defenders and cross the ball would be very welcome.

The amount is times I have read Sidibe is a great or good crosser of the ball is unbelievable. He gets about 50% of his attempts towards an Everton player, better than Walcott but still average to OK at best.

I'm shocked at how poor the crossing is, even Digne and Siggy have struggled in what was one of their strengths. To often backwards or infield. Annoys me, must really pee the forwards.


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