Everton make bold move to poach star Sevilla sporting director Monchi

Publish date: 2024-04-19

Everton will make an ambitious move to try to tempt Sevilla sporting director Monchi to Goodison Park following suggestions in Spain that he is ready for a new challenge.

Monchi is regarded as one of the top transfer chiefs in world football and Everton accept the likelihood of landing the 47-year-old appears slim, given his reputation in Europe.

Dani Alves, left, and Frédéric Kanouté, right, seen tussling with Ronaldinho, are both Monchi signings Credit: AP

But that will not stop majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri attempting to sell his dream for Everton to Monchi and offering him the chance to spend £100million to help take the club into the Champions League. It is understood Monchi is attracted to the idea of working in England and Manchester United have already been linked with him, while Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have made unsuccessful enquiries in the past.

Tottenham and manager Mauricio Pochettino have already overhauled the club’s scouting network, which means Everton may be one of few English options left available to Monchi. Moshiri has already held talks with Sevilla manager Unai Emery over the vacant job at Everton and would love to pair him with Monchi at Goodison Park.

Monchi might have to countenance the sale of Lukaku Credit: Reuters

But, regardless of whether or not Everton land Emery, Moshiri is keen to appoint a sporting director to work alongside whoever eventually succeeds Roberto Martinez as manager. It is unlikely that any of the candidates for the Everton job, including Emery, Ronald Koeman, Frank De Boer and Manuel Pellegrini, would object to working with Monchi, given his highly impressive CV.

Everton will not just face competition from Premier League clubs should Monchi quit Sevilla, however, with Real Madrid thought to be attracted to him. Monchi, whose real name is Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo, spent six months in England in the 2013/14 season but said it was to learn English to help his work with Sevilla, rather than preparation for a move to the Premier League.

He has been the brains behind Sevilla winning nine trophies in 10 years while making a £152m profit in the transfer window. The Spanish club clinched their third successive Europa League title by beating Liverpool in the final this season.

Sevilla beat Klopp's Liverpool to the Europa League title Credit: REX

Of all his impressive transfer deals, Monchi rates Dani Alves, Luis Fabiano and former West Ham United and Tottenham striker Fredi Kanoute as his top three. Alves was signed as a 19-year-old for around £150,000 and sold to Barcelona  for £27m six years later, Fabiano scored over 100 goals for the club and Kanoute helped Sevilla win six titles after signing for just £5m from Spurs.

According to reports in Spain, Monchi has fallen out with Sevilla officials and cancelled a scheduled club TV appearance and an interview that was planned for Tuesday morning.

Other than Monchi, Everton have considered former Arsenal player Marc Overmars and ex-Liverpool scout Eduardo Macia for a sporting director role with the club facing a tricky summer. Striker Romelu Lukaku and central defender John Stones are expected to leave Goodison Park, while Everton could also receive bids for Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman.

But no matter who goes, the club’s next manager will be expected to challenge for European qualification.

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