Football writer Greg O’Keeffe has suggested Everton currently pay James Rodriguez more than £200,000 per week.
There was much excitement when the Toffees signed the Colombian from Real Madrid last summer. Sadly for all parties, it looks as though the move may not have worked out for the best, with Rodriguez supposedly keen to follow former manager Carlo Ancelotti out of the exit door.
However, with the transfer market slamming shut and nobody coming in with a sufficient offer to tempt the playmaker out of the club, Rodriguez is set to stay in Everton until next January at least.
To makes things worse, O’Keeffe has now revealed that the 30-year-old’s pay packet could be far higher than what has been reported.
While talking on The All Together Now Everton Podcast, O’Keeffe claimed that, from what he had heard, the Colombian could be making ‘north’ of £200,000 a week.
He elaborated, saying: “Suggestions I’ve heard, which I can’t fully describe, is that you might be looking at, you know, north of £200,000 a week when you factor in everything – [the] full extent of his deal.
“So this is a player who’s on eye-watering money. And unless something changes, could well be kicking his heels till January at least.
“You know, he’s been told, surplus to requirements, face doesn’t fit – he’s been told that. He had an opportunity to leave, he wouldn’t budge on his wage demands.”
TIF Thoughts on James Rodriguez and Everton…
After discovering just how much their club pay Rodriguez, it would surely frustrate many Everton fans to hear O’Keeffe add that the midfielder had the opportunity to leave this summer but turned it down.
The Colombian’s excessive wage may also explain why the club only spent £1.7m in the transfer market this window, despite bringing in a number of new faces.
The 30-year-old may not have featured this season so far, but with six league goals to his name last campaign, there is clearly enough talent to make some kind of impact upon the team. Perhaps his Everton career isn’t quite finished just yet, but the signs are that Rodriguez wants no part in Rafael Benitez’s Toffees side.