Everton journalist David Hughes has raised some concerns about the links that have developed between football agent Kia Joorabchian and the club.
There is a lot of change going on right now at Everton as they try to sort out a new manager following the departure of Rafael Benitez a few weeks ago – and that’s on top of the January transfer window, which has already seen some movement in and out.
And apparently, Joorabchian is playing a rather big role in how things are going on at Goodison Park, with journalist Dean Jones expressing in an interview with GiveMeSport: “Agents are still having a massive say over certain clubs in the Premier League. Considering a couple of names that have started to emerge linked with Everton, I think Kia Joorabchian has got his fingerprints all over this.”
And that has left Hughes feeling rather concerned with how close Joorabchian – someone with something of a controversial past – is to the higher-ups at the club and the effect that it could have on the Toffees.
Hughes gave his views on the latest edition of the All Together Now podcast, and explained why he was so concerned about the proximity that Joorabchian had to the hierarchy and how the club might be able to make things look better if they were simply more open about it.
He said: “It’s an unsettling level of influence, in my opinion. And I can understand, if you look at his previous with other clubs, if you look at Reading, look at his involvement there; look at West Ham, other clubs where he’s had a big influence on the owner…
“It’s worrying, isn’t it? He is, no doubt, doing his job, trying to make money for himself, for his agency. He’s an influential agent, got a lot of people on his books.
“I just think you have to ask questions about why an agent with such vested interest is being given such a huge role? Are we just going to be transparent about it and do what Wolves did with [Jorge] Mendes?
“Part of me would rather they did that. I mean, I don’t think that’s the right decision with Kia Joorabchian, to be honest with you. But at least with Wolves, it was quite clear.”
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Whilst having Joorabchian might be easier for Everton to bring players into the club as they try to stabilise themselves following a rather disastrous start to the season, given his history, you can certainly see why Hughes might be concerned with the level of influence that he is potentially having at Goodison Park.
And as Hughes said, perhaps if they were to be more open with the dealings, as Wolves are with their relationship with Jorge Mendes, perhaps that might help things go smoother and be perceived more favourably rather than it looking rather shady by keeping it somewhat behind closed doors.
It will certainly be an interesting one to follow, you just have to hope that what he does ends up working out for Everton and they don’t end up in trouble, as has happened with some of his previous dealings.
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