The Rumour Mill

Hoilett a possibility but no go on Rodallega and Pranjic

12/07/2012 |

Comments (50)

Everton have ended their pursuit of Hugo Rodallega and Danijel Pranjic but are monitoring the situation with Junior Hoilett according to the Liverpool Echo.

Colombian striker Rodallega held talks with the Blues last weekend and looked destined for Goodison until Everton rejected reported wage demands of £70,000 a week.

Fulham have won the "race" to sign the ex-Wigan man on a free transfer instead, tying him to a three-year deal at Craven Cottage.

The Echo also run contrary to rumour last week in claiming that the Club did not have any contact with Pranjic and do not intend to. The 31 year-old Croatian went public with his desire to finalise a move to Merseyside that would have come off in January if his former club, Bayern Munich, hadn't blocked the transfer.

Everton have not abandoned their interest in Junior Hoilett, however. The Blackburn Rovers forward looked set to join Borussia Moenchengladbach last month but the move has since stalled.

Now big-spending Queens Park Rangers have emerged as strong suitors for the 22 year-old, but Everton remain in the hunt. He would command an estimated £3m development fee for Blackburn should he leave Ewood Park.

Original Source: Liverpool Echo Rumour source ranking:
1 = Poor; 2 = Fair; 3 = Good; 4 = Very Good; Empty (grey) = Unranked

Reader Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

James Morgan
508 Posted 12/07/2012 at 18:58:49

Rodallega has gone to Fulham, glad for 70k! As for Hoilett, I'd love him at Everton, he is exactly what we need.

Gavin Ramejkis
510 Posted 12/07/2012 at 19:02:53

If it was a choice between the two then Hoilett all the way and he'd more likely get a game too.

Phil Davies
515 Posted 12/07/2012 at 19:08:42

We have been crying out for a fast direct winger for years and one suddenly becomes available and he's still only 22, the lad needs to be signed definitely, he's the type of player that could take us that step further.

Ian Bennett
517 Posted 12/07/2012 at 19:08:48

I really thought we'd sign him. 70k that is a complete joke.

I guess it's the sign of things to come under the new sky deal.

Mark Riding
518 Posted 12/07/2012 at 19:13:44

If I were a Fulham fan, I would rather have spent wages keeping AJ, Murphy and Dempsey and the Russian fella who went to Reading..
Bonkers wages for Hugo, bloody Van Persie is on £90k a week !

Brian Williams
522 Posted 12/07/2012 at 19:21:39

I wouldn't take it as Gospel that we're in for Hoilett, just as I wouldn't take is as Gospel that the 70k per week wages were the sticking point with Rodallega.

I trust what the Echo print as much as any of the other rags!

Does anyone else get fed up with "The Echo understands that".......

Bullshit most of it, utter bullshit!

Clarence Yurcan
530 Posted 12/07/2012 at 19:37:07

It is utterly depressing that QPR can be described as "big spending." When will it be our time????

Sean McKenna
533 Posted 12/07/2012 at 19:47:53

Personally, I would rather see us go for Zaha of Palace.

Holliet looks very lazy, like another Yak...

Zaha has energy to burn, is pacey and full of tricks.

Denis Richardson
534 Posted 12/07/2012 at 19:48:28

I really cannot see us getting Hoilett. Would be great if we do but for a pacey young talented player, some bigger (more cash) clubs are bound to out bid us.

Surpised that the Croatian lad is not happening, sounded like it was almost a done deal....

So just Naismith it is then, may as well start looking for the loans.........anyone know if Yobo is training with the sqaud?

Rhys Gough
536 Posted 12/07/2012 at 20:00:12

Now that Rodallega is a no-go, I'm more confident of the Hoilett deal! Hopefully the wages saved on Rodallega will go towards Hoilett. A young, pacey, direct, winger. Bring him in Moyesey... IMWT

Ian Glassey
539 Posted 12/07/2012 at 19:51:38

I would love Hoilett but won't he want £70,000 a week or more? The likes of QPR, Sunderland and Stoke will all pay that so it's back to square one. He would be a star here but cash will rule.

As for Rodallega, he would have spent most of the time on the bench whereas he will get a game at Fulham...

Mark Riding
547 Posted 12/07/2012 at 20:31:03

Sean #533 – I was saying the other week Zaha is worth a punt. He is lightning. Years since we had that sort of pace (Kanchelskis probably). Throw in a few players in exchange, and Palace would go for it.

Noel Early
552 Posted 12/07/2012 at 20:40:18

If Rodallega was looking for £70k a week, I'd imagine Hoillet would want the same. If we get another player, it will be someone from the Championship who wants Premier League football and comes cheap. Clyne and Zaha might be the best chance.

Oh the joys of being a Toffee... outbid by Fulham.

Ian Glassey
554 Posted 12/07/2012 at 20:46:16

Zaha is a good shout Mark, only problem is Southhampton are talking about
£8mill for him and Nathan Clyne.

Guy Hastings
555 Posted 12/07/2012 at 20:53:45

Ian - Soton can ask what they like but I suggest Moyes talks to Palace first.

Mark Riding
556 Posted 12/07/2012 at 20:52:01

Ian, I live in Soton.. they dont pay the wages. We could easily compete with them wages wise for Zaha. Pienaar was at their training ground a few weeks ago with his agent, and I reckon they were laughed out of the place money wise.
A few seasons in the Prem though and the likes of saints and Reading will be in a stronger position than us believe it or not ! ( and saints have been in admistration ).

Ian Glassey
558 Posted 12/07/2012 at 21:01:39

Thanks Mark, didnt know about Pienaar being there last week, nice to think we can pay more than them anyway..

Conor Skelly
560 Posted 12/07/2012 at 21:06:34

How anybody can criticize Moyes' performances as Everton manager is laughable when typically Fulham can get players ahead of us and we are worried about if Southampton out bid us for a player. Kenwright and Co Out !! IMIT.

Ian Glassey
561 Posted 12/07/2012 at 21:07:49

Guy, I should have said that Soton were bidding £8 mill for the 2 of them sorry..

Mark Riding
563 Posted 12/07/2012 at 21:11:53

Ian, before some smart arse comes on, Pienaar wasnt in Southampton last week, it was a few weeks ago.

Terry Downes
564 Posted 12/07/2012 at 21:13:27

All bollocks if you ask me.

Peter Warren
565 Posted 12/07/2012 at 21:12:29

We can be criticised a lot but criticised for not paying 70k per week for rodallega? I think fulham have about 150m debt and you can see why. No way would I sign him for that much

Jordan Maloney
567 Posted 12/07/2012 at 21:20:48

Rodallega £70k a week!! He's messin him, isn't he?! He only scored about 2 goals last season!!

Phil Sammon
571 Posted 12/07/2012 at 21:28:33

I don't believe for one minute that Pienaar was in talks with Southampton

Kevin Freaney
580 Posted 12/07/2012 at 21:59:44

Very disappointed with the Pranjic deal. The guys on a free, wants to play for us and looks a decent player. It's a no brainer for me. Strange we're not following it up.

And just to make myself unpopular I actually don't want Pienaar back at the club. Especially if it's true about Southampton. The guy is mercenary. Don't get me wrong, he offers alot on the pitch, but not the type of player I want at the club. All he has to do is say he wants to come to Everton, especially as we have made it obvious we are pursuing a deal, but no, he's made noises about staying at Spurs etc, etc. He's holding out for a big pay day and chances are we won't be able to offer the wages he wants. I wouldn't be surprised if the deal never happens.

Paul Smith
582 Posted 12/07/2012 at 22:12:01

I happen to run a drop-in for ex-offenders opposite St marys stadium, and I ain't seen him (pieenar).

Phil Sammon
584 Posted 12/07/2012 at 22:19:37

Kevin - he could never come out and say he 100% wanted out at Spurs could he? Then what if we couldn't fork out for him? He'll be sat in the reserves and Spurs fans would loathe him. I still think he'll come back.

Mark Riding
600 Posted 12/07/2012 at 23:34:37

Phil, I wasnt saying he was 'in talks', I said he was there. Paul it was Staplewood, not the ground.
Source was a first team player, and I have no reason not to believe him.

Mark Riding
602 Posted 12/07/2012 at 23:45:38

Paul #582. Your view from the ex-offenders drop-in opposite St. Marys ?? Really ? Are you the source of all these internet rumours ? Surely you should be paying attention to what these ex-cons are up to rather than 'keeping them peeled' for footballers ?

Si Cooper
605 Posted 12/07/2012 at 23:49:32

Mark, you did say he was there with his agent and that you thought they would have been laughed out of the place over the subject of money (I presume that would be wage demands?), which sort of suggests they were in talks. If true, not really in line with David Moyes's belief that Peanuts is committed to returning to EFC is it?
Moyes's comments alone on the subject should have any Spurs fans bristling over Pienaar's committment to them. Elsewhere, it is rumoured that Pienaar will cost us £5 million which seems a bit steep, but the player's public ambivalence coupled with our enthusiasm has obviously given Spurs the whip hand in any negotiations.
Overall, I think I would like to see that money invested on a bit of a gamble with an up and coming player unless there is a plan to recruit 2 or 3 players in addition to Pienaar.

Mark Riding
608 Posted 13/07/2012 at 00:13:32

Si, I did mention weeks ago that this took place on another thread. Its not new 'breaking news'.
I dont suppose I can name the player I was talking to here ? ( As Paul Smith above may know, its not un-common to have a chat with the Saints players down here )
There were two players who showed up at Staplewood, one of them was Pienaar. Its daft to think his agent wasnt creating interest in the player. I told the saints player what Pienaar refused at Everton ( £65k - I believed ) and he genuinely did laugh. Their two top players ( Lalanna and Lambert ) are / were, on half that !

Mark Riding
612 Posted 13/07/2012 at 00:56:19

Ian #554 - todays mail "Southampton are hopeful of pushing through a move for Crystal Palace right back Nathaniel Clyne, 21"
Does not mention Zaha though, thinking about it, maybe the £8m you mentioned for them both wouldnt be such bad business ( if we had a pot to piss in ! )

Si Cooper
619 Posted 13/07/2012 at 02:00:26

But why is Pienaar accompanying his agent to Southampton at any time if he has indicated to us that he wants to return and, if you have heard about it, is it likely that it hasn't filtered back to Everton and Spurs? I am so fed-up with the way things are spun these days. The club spin things to make it seem like we are ambitious and competitive, and the players spin things simply to keep hold of their 'loyalty' bonus. The Pienaar business already smelt fishy to me and if he is touting himself around elsewhere I see no reason to believe we are odds on to sign him unless he is using the interest from other clubs (that he is himself creating!) to squeeze more cash from us. If that is the case then I don't want him anyway. I have never minded his displays of his personal beliefs as I think it is okay to be proud of such things as long they make you want to be a good or better person. He better be looking for more cash to give to those who need it more than him, otherwise he is just a big hypocrite

Marcus Choo
635 Posted 13/07/2012 at 05:51:33

Not sure where the 70k per week that Rodallega is commanding came from. Just read a comment from a Fulham fan saying their highest earner is on 50k per week (Hangeland), and even the fan didn't believe they had signed Rodallega for that much wages.

Anyone can confirm the news? Because that would spin our views differently on why he didn't sign. I think he would have been a useful squad player to rotate with others when injuries, off-form performances kick in...

Eric Myles
642 Posted 13/07/2012 at 07:18:29

Paul #582, Pienaar has not been found guilty yet, maybe he'll pop in to see you when he has.

Danny Burke
644 Posted 13/07/2012 at 07:16:24

Too much money for a decent but not great player in Rodeallga. For the right price I'd have had him but for those wages I'd want someone who would go into the team and be of a level of Fellaini, Baines, Jelavic.

As for Pienaar, would love him back, but we have no cash. If spurs don't want him what's he supposed to do? If we can't afford him and he ends up not in AVBs plans, of course he's going to keep his options open.

Sam Hoare
664 Posted 13/07/2012 at 10:21:10

Sky Sports report that Hoilett is on way to Germany. Shame.

Maybe just Pienaar to come in? Or does Moyes have an ace up his sleeve?

Kieran Fitzgerald
676 Posted 13/07/2012 at 11:05:06

Kevin 580, I was surprised at first that we were not in quickly for Pranjic. I think though that he would only have interested Moyes if there had been definite movement in terms of Baines going out or definite proof that we were not going to get Pienaar. Pity because I do think that Pienaar is out of our price range and that there is no guarantee that Spurs would sell him to us, new manager or not.

Andrew Ellams
683 Posted 13/07/2012 at 11:49:38

The optimism of a week ago has been totally shot down in flames. So far only Naismith in and even that could possibly go wrong if the SFA get there way.

The squad is smaller than it was at the end of least season, older bones are getting older and creakier and we have no creative outlet in midfield. Here we go again..............

Matt Traynor
684 Posted 13/07/2012 at 11:44:50

Sam #664, that's disappointing for Blackburn if that's true as I'm pretty sure they don't get the development fee if that's the case. (Like when Ledley left Cardiff to go to Celtic).

It could be that the player/agent do this to maximise their money (in lieu of the development fee), or it could be that Borussia are "parking" the player, and look to sell him on in a year or so for good money. Something Real Madrid were exponents of years ago.

Kieran Fitzgerald
686 Posted 13/07/2012 at 11:53:31

Andrew, I'm feeling a little deflated after the events of last week. I was hoping that it would be a week of Moyes wheeling and dealing and getting everything completed with his squad before pre season started.

I was even hoping in a perverse way that we would get offers for our players last week too. At least we would have it over with and would have the cash to manage our transfers and keeping the banks happy.

Even the rumours are getting recycled this week. How many times is Hoillett mentioned at this stage.

Phil Sammon
689 Posted 13/07/2012 at 12:15:21

Andrew & Kevin. Jesus Christ, give Moyes a chance will you?! They signed a player last week. How many other PL teams have signed more than one player? Swansea, Spurs, Arsenal, Man U and fulham. I could understand your point if it were mid-August

Mike Green
691 Posted 13/07/2012 at 12:19:12

TalkSport reckon Everton in talks with Spurs today about bringing Pienaar back.........

Andrew Ellams
700 Posted 13/07/2012 at 12:37:21

The problem Phil is that the players that seemed most likely within our reach ie Rodellega, Pranjic and Hoilett have all now apparently been blown out of the water. Where is Moyes going to find opportunities like those that fit our financial constraints like those players could have?

Jimmy Kelly
702 Posted 13/07/2012 at 12:45:27

Andrew, there are other players out there it's just that those 3 were the ones in the papers. Who saw neverending links with Drenthe and Stracqualursi last year?

There's no need to panic just yet, we've got one more new player than I expected at this stage.

Matt Traynor
703 Posted 13/07/2012 at 12:58:45

Jimmy, who had heard of Stracqualursi last year before we signed him? Also, he and Drenthe were deadline day deals, when we'd just shipped out Arteta.

So yes, we've got one more player in, but I wouldn't rule out a repeat of last year's deadline-day shenanigans – it's not like we've not been there before!

Sam Hoare
704 Posted 13/07/2012 at 12:59:14

I agree, its still relatively early days and there is buzz that we are moving closer with Pienaar. Personally I think £5M is a little steep but I suppose there will be others with the more money willing to pay it.

It is frustrating that the likes of QPR, Sunderland Newcastle and even Fulham and West Ham now seem to be able to offer more in wages than us.

Reckon we will get Pienaar and one surprise, maybe that Castaignos lad.

Steve Jones
705 Posted 13/07/2012 at 12:45:17

In fairness, Andrew, Rodellaga was never worth what he thought he was and is no loss.

Pranjic hasn't gone anywhere else, last I heard, we've just not shown as much interest in him as he has in us. Either we're keeping him on the back-burner in case we don't get Pienaar (or lose Baines) or we are just not interested anymore. Can't blame Moyes for not going after a player he doesn't want!

Hoilett may be learning a tough lesson in being worth what someone will pay you and will come with a £3-4m development fee to Blackburn. If we have to pay big wages and come up with a transfer fee I'd rather see an approach for Weiss from Citeh. Just as youthful as Hoilett and has already linked up well with Jela and Naismith at Rangers.

Let's face it, Moyes is never going to kneejerk into bringing players in just to placate disgruntled fans, is he?

Peter Warren
708 Posted 13/07/2012 at 13:06:38

Hoilett only one of those 3 that I would be delighted with. But again, we shouldn't be paying £70K for him, perhaps half but even that is bloody high

Steve Cotton
862 Posted 13/07/2012 at 22:55:39

I can't believe this lad has not been considered for a freebe right wing slot. Twice the guile of Coleman and Gueye and won't cost us a penny.

Rangers' player of the season apparently and is faster and more skillful that most.

I will probably get slagged off but for a free, fleet-footed winger who can also finish (hat trick in last game) then surely the door should be open?

Anyway we could always sell him in January for £3-4 mill if he doesn't settle!

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.