Seasons  »  2015-16  »  Everton News

Martinez hopes to land South American duo

by Lyndon Lloyd | 25/08/2015  27 Comments  [Jump to last]
Roberto Martinez has confirmed that he is looking to acquire Leandro Rodriguez from River Plate Montevideo as well as Ramiro Funes Mori from Argentina.

Both players were in attendance at Goodison Park for Sunday's game against Manchester City but the club are waiting on the completion of both deals before they can be announced as new Everton players.

Funes Mori, the defender from River Plate in Argentina, is believed to be waiting for a work permit – given that he has just one cap for his country, there are no guarantees – while Martinez told the media this morning that a deal for striker Rodriguez is close but not finalised. Rodriguez's dual-Italian passport would negate the requirement for work authorisation in his case.

“[Leandro] is a young striker playing for River in Uruguay," the manager said. "We will find out more over the next three days. We might be able to say something ahead of the weekend."

“[He] is someone with an incredible potential that will fit in very well with that group of players that we identify to have the quality to reach the first team very soon," Martinez continued in regard to a player who, as a potential signing for the U21s setup, is not believed to be one of the three first-team acquisitions he is hoping to wrap up before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

"Ramiro was invited to the game at the weekend with the permission of River Plate," the Catalan explained in relation to Funes Mori. "At the moment we are just trying to see if we can conclude a deal and find a solution with our counterparts in Argentina.

“Ramiro is a player that we can be excited about but I cannot speak too much about it until we have something to announce to our fans.”

"Work permit rules have changed slightly and we're going to take the opportunity of testing the new process and we think we can get the points needed to get the work permit.

A reporter for Sky Sports later added weight to that saying that the club could receive confirmation from the Department of Employment as early as today.  

Reader Comments (27)

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Nick Entwistle
1 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:17:02
One cap? Well, brown paper bag time down at the immigration office.
Andy Peers
2 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:19:56
Please don't let this be two of the three signings we have been told about. We just don't have any ambition, if that is the case, as it only leaves room for one major signing and that isn't enough. Oh dear (sigh)
Shane Corcoran
3 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:21:22
Why is he calling him Ramiro?

Don't tell me they flew in the wrong fella.

James Marshall
5 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:25:50
Because err, his name is Ramiro?
Nick Entwistle
6 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:27:04
Last season, 23 appearances, subbed off in 18, and 9 goals. Rumored to be £500k transfer. I'm all for giving people a chance. Just like Joao Silva.
Oscar Huglin
8 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:30:05
Looks like Stones has handed in a transfer request...
Shane Corcoran
9 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:30:43
James #4, just spotting that now.

He was mostly referred to as Funes Mori which I thought covered his first and surname. My mistake.

James Marshall
10 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:39:46
The England defender informed Roberto Martínez, the Everton manager, last week that he wishes to join Chelsea if possible, but the Merseyside club have maintained a firm stance that he is not for sale. Stones is now contemplating whether to go a step further by officially requesting a transfer, even though Martinez has stated publicly that such a move would make no difference.

Shane, you're excused...

Helen Mallon
11 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:41:16
Kick the bloody lot of them out if theses are two of our top signings. I have just read a good piece on ESPN about how rubbish this club is being run.
Dan Nulty
13 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:46:37
Guessing this week is about to hot up if Stones handing in a request is true. These two signings aren't going to improve the first team immediately and losing Stones would mean we don't finish the window stronger. I hope Martinez is telling the truth about the fact it makes no difference.
Paul Kelly
15 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:47:52
Don't really know what to say.
John Audsley
16 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:49:38
Well if he has handed in a request that changes everything. Tapped up to high he'll but bet he goes to Chelsea.

Only way he was going was if he handed a request over.

35M and no time to buy a replacement

FFS

Patrick Murphy
17 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:51:24
Ah Well Lescott is available on a free, it was always likely that Stones would go, I wonder if City and United put in a bid and ensure the whole thing is dragged out to the last day - not enough time to bring in a replacement?
Paul Smith
18 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:51:37
Perfect storm brewing. Biggest asset wants out & no replacements.

Question is why have we invested so little this window ?

Mark Tanton
19 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:53:33
Let's just have faith that Everton have a plan for this. At Everton, blind faith is all we have.
Harold Matthews
22 Posted 25/08/2015 at 17:11:58
YHope we get these two talented lads but wouldn't want them playing with our very poor bunch of U21s, some of whom are 16 and 17.

Stones can't stay now.

Jay Woods
23 Posted 25/08/2015 at 17:13:18
Now that Stones has done this, I never want to see him in our kit again.

But doesn't this just remind us once again that Everton is no longer a top club? That we will never challenge for the league, much less European trophies, under the current regime? That we will again and again lose our best young talent to moneyed clubs?

And why is everyone so upset about missing out on Yarmolenko? Even if we were to get him and he played as well as we think he might, it would only mean one thing: his inevitable sale to a moneyed club.

Nothing is ever going to change unless Bill Kenwright and his shower are excised from the club. Now, some may want to fly planes with banners calling for this. Personally, though, I believe these is no better way to make it happen than by simply staying away from Goodison and refusing to buy any merchandise. It's akin to starving yourself when you've got a stomach bug; it hurts, it's not nice, you get hunger pangs, but it's the only tonic that will improve the situation.

Brian Porter
24 Posted 25/08/2015 at 17:14:36
If he's put in a transfer request at this late date in the window, knowing full well we won't have time to replace him, then he's not the man I thought he was, and we should turn his,request down and,tell him we'll consider it again in January. Just because he asks, we don't have to agree. He is under contract for another four years after all. If he ends up at Chelsea I think he'll end up being totally despised by the fans who have so far stuck with him and thought we might see some loyalty from him. If he wants to go warm their bench, then sod him!! We will survive without him but he has single-handedly destroyed Roberto's dream of building a new, young team around him, if this is true.
Anthony Hawkins
25 Posted 25/08/2015 at 17:16:17
And so it begins. BBC are reporting the transfer request as official.
Dave Pritchard
26 Posted 25/08/2015 at 17:18:05
Let's hope we get at least £40 million and have players lined up. Probably a forlorn hope though.
Nick Entwistle
27 Posted 25/08/2015 at 17:23:16
Just heard Micky Quinn on TalkSport defending Everton. I would think it in every RS's interest to do just that.

James Stewart
29 Posted 25/08/2015 at 20:48:24
500k is worrying. I hope it isn't a reflection on his ability. Why on earth would we be looking at this guy if we had any money? To put it in context Burnley just signed a striker for 9 million.
Frank Crewe
30 Posted 25/08/2015 at 20:49:06
@Jay 17

Or you get anorexia and die. I don't see how making a poor club even poorer will improve our present situation.

Frank Crewe
31 Posted 25/08/2015 at 20:56:27
James remember when Swansea bought Michu for a measly £2 million? Never heard of him but he scored 20 goals in 52 games.

How much did Cahill cost us? Or Pienaar, Arteta, Lescott, Martyn, etc. If we got Messi on a free does that mean he's rubbish? There's no way to know if a player will be a diamond or fools gold until he puts on the shirt and runs out onto the park.

They may turn out to be the best playes we've ever had.

Callum McNab
32 Posted 25/08/2015 at 21:18:46
Jay Woods. Spot on.
Spragg Johnson
33 Posted 25/08/2015 at 22:31:56
Make this window end ... it's covered in shit and I don't want to try to look through it anymore!
James Stewart
34 Posted 25/08/2015 at 22:35:14
I take your point Frank but the game has moved on a lot from when we signed Cahill and the like for peanuts. Even Moyes himself said its near impossible now to get the likes of a Coleman in for next to nothing due to clubs having much more money now and vast scouting networks.

Who knows you may be right and he is a hidden gem but my point was that we have spent virtually nothing this window, even less than Championship clubs. Is that really a way to remain competitive and would Martinez really be bringing him in if he had the money to go and get an Austin or such like. I guess we will never know but I highly doubt it.

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