Eldesmarque said Everton were interested in Gerónimo Rulli and considered signing him to replace Jordan Pickford next season, but the 28-year-old has since joined Villarreal on a four-year deal. Carlo Ancelotti may be considering a replacement for the inconsistent Pickford after a disappointing 2019/20 campaign, but he’ll now have to turn his attentions elsewhere.
Why was Rulli available?
Rulli spent three years at Real Sociedad after moving from Manchester City in January 2017 and went on to make 89 appearances in all competitions, conceding 227 goals and keeping 50 clean sheets. His future at the Anoeta Stadium was uncertain this summer, however, as he’d be on the periphery over the last 12 months.
Rulli spent 2019/20 on loan at Montpellier, making 28 appearances (27 goals conceded and 11 clean sheets), and would have Andoni Zubiaurre, Álex Remiro and Miguel Ángel Moya for competition upon his return to Sociedad. A move away looked on the cards, but we didn’t move fast enough to bring him to Goodison Park.
Rulli had a €40m release clause at Sociedad, but Eldesmarque said we were hoping to land his signature for €10m. Villarreal have ended up signing him for only £4.5m, so he could have been a bargain acquisition.
Who else could we make a move for?
With Rulli no longer available, Super Deporte say Jasper Cillessen is on our radar. We’re considering loaning the Valencia goalkeeper for a season as he’s surplus to requirements at the Mestalla Stadium.
Cillessen has been transfer-listed as Valencia desperately need money, but Golsmedia say his performances last season were below-par, so he may not be an improvement on Pickford.
We’ve been linked with Salvatore Sirigu from Torino, Gianluigi Donnarumma from AC Milan, Sergio Romero from Manchester United, Lucas Perri from Sao Paulo and Marco Silvestri from Hellas Verona, but it remains to be seen who we’ll bring in.
Summary
It doesn’t appear Ancelotti trusts Jonas Lossl and Joao Virginia to replace Jordan Pickford if the England international continues to struggle next season, so we may see a new goalkeeper brought in before the transfer window shuts in October.
In other news, Gylfi Sigurdsson be on his way to the MLS