The secrets from the summer transfer window are all coming out now as Everton actually tried to sign a player who ended up joining Tottenham Hotspur.
Halfway through the window, David Moyes went public and admitted that it’s been a struggle to get players through the door after little activity.
“The club are trying really hard to get the players I want and I’ve found it really difficult because in my last few years (in his previous job at West Ham United), I’ve been involved in European competition,” Moyes told the Athletic.
“It’s a bit easier when you’re a club in Europe. You get a better chance of attracting a lot of players. We’ve been in for a lot of really good players. Unfortunately, a lot of them have said no at the moment.”
Well, now that the window has shut, it has just emerged that Everton actually felt they had a chance of signing a midfielder who ultimately chose to join Tottenham Hotspur.
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Everton tried to sign Joao Palhinha before he joined Tottenham Hotspur
Moyes was keen to sign a midfielder all summer as he feared for when Idrissa Gana Gueye would have to leave mid-season due to AFCON.
Ultimately, Rohl came in, but according to the Athletic, they were initially trying to sign Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich.
The Toffees felt they had a ‘decent chance’ of signing Palhinha, but Spurs hijacked the deal and the lure of Champions League football proved key.
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The £47m midfielder has started two of the opening three league games and scored in the 2-0 win against Manchester City.
Everton also wanted Richard Rios
As well as an attempt to sign Palhinha, Everton were also exploring a deal to sign Richard Rios from Palmeiras after his impressive Club World Cup campaign.
Benfica beat Everton to the signing of Rios, though, as the Columbia international was desperate to play his football in Portugal.
Despite frustration at the time, Moyes can be really pleased with the addition of Rohl, and at £18m it could be a bargain.
Bundesliga expert Ruairidh Petre reckons Rohl has all the talent to flourish at Everton, and he can operate in a number of different positions.
The German enjoyed a productive campaign at the under-21 European Championships earlier this summer, helping his nation reach the final.