Everton and transfers have always had a complicated relationship. Players of high approval seemed to be very likely to sign for Everton, but it never came to fruition. Recent examples include Andriy Yarmolenko, Ivan Perisic and Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe. There have also been some who Everton had an eye on but did nothing, and players who left the club and went on to greater things.
Joe Hart
In 2005, Everton were linked with 18-year-old goalkeeping prodigy Joe Hart. Goalkeeping Chris Woods went on a scouting mission to find up-and-coming goalkeepers, and Joe Hart caught his eye.
He ended up joining Manchester City and went on to become England’s number-one goalkeeper. His honours include two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and four Golden Gloves, and he was included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year twice.
Everton were linked with him again in August 2016, however Hart opted for Torino on a season-long loan deal.
Eric Dier
In 2011, Eric Dier joined Everton from Sporting Lisbon on a season-long youth loan deal. He featured prominently in the U18s, however he found the experience very unsettling and immediately returned to Sporting Lisbon once his loan expired.
Since then, he joined Tottenham and became an England international, scoring the winner in a friendly against Germany and a free-kick in Euro 2016 against Russia.
Shkodran Mustafi
In 2009, Shkodran Mustafi joined Everton from Hamburg. He spent two-and-a-half years at the club, before being released in January 2012. He made just one first-team appearance for Everton – a 15-minute cameo against BATE Borisov in the Europa League.
Since he was released, he had a spell at Sampdoria. During that time, he made his international debut for Germany and won the World Cup. A few months later, he signed for Valencia, and he scored his first ever international goal in Germany’s 2-0 win over Ukraine in Euro 2016, a day after fellow former Everton player Eric Dier scored a free-kick against Russia.
In August 2016, he joined Everton’s Premier League rivals Arsenal for a fee of £35 million.
Juan Roman Riquelme
In 2007, Juan Roman Riquelme was linked with Everton. In fact, Everton “confirmed” they have signed him on the club’s website, when actually the “deal” was used an example to test the new home page for the website.
Since then, Riquelme was repeatedly linked with the club by their own fans practically every summer until he retired.
Petr Cech
In 2002, Everton were linked with up-and-coming Sparta Prague goalkeeper, Petr Cech. Cech went through a run of 905 minutes without conceding a goal – a run that interested some big clubs such as Arsenal as well as Everton.
Sparta Prague price-tagged him at £3.6 million. Everton found this price tag off-putting because they thought it was too high, especially considering the club had severe financial difficulties at the time. In the end, they thought the fee wasn’t worth it and chose to rely on Richard Wright instead.
Since then, Petr Cech joined Rennes, and helped them avoid relegation. In 2004, he moved to Chelsea, where he really made his name. When he was at Chelsea, in his debut season, he set a Premier League record of going through 1,025 minutes without conceding a goal (a run since broken by Edwin van der Sar). In the same season, he won the Golden Glove after keeping 21 clean sheets and only conceding 15 goals. Further glory ensued: he went on to win the Premier League four times, the FA Cup four times, the League Cup three times, the Europa League, and the Champions League. Regarding individual honours, he added another three Golden Gloves, twice the goalkeeper chosen for PFA Team of the Year, and was named IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper in 2005.
He is currently at Chelsea’s rivals, Arsenal, and set a league record while at the club by keeping a clean sheet against Bournemouth in late-2015, thus keeping his 170th Premier League clean sheet and overtaking David James for the most number of clean sheets kept in the Premier League.
Rafael van der Vaart
In 2009, Everton were rumoured to make an ambitious bid for Real Madrid player Rafael van der Vaart. According to Sportmail, a source at Real Madrid said Everton were the only team who made contact with Real Madrid regarding van der Vaart and he was interested in a move to England. The Dutch midfielder himself was said to be looking forward to joining Everton, however he was persuaded to stay at the Spanish club.
The following year, van der Vaart signed for Tottenham and became a talismanic player, scoring 28 goals in 78 games for the club.
Ever Banega
In 2009, Everton were set to sign 21-year-old Argentine international midfielder Ever Banega on a season-long loan deal. If he had a successful spell, it was very likely that the move would become permanent. However, the move didn’t happen because Banega couldn’t be able to get a visa.
After the move failed, Banega went on to had success at Sevilla, winning two Europa League titles.
Antoine Griezmann
In 2014, Everton were linked with the highly sought-after Real Sociedad winger, Antoine Griezmann. Duncan Ferguson was seen watching Real Sociedad play Villarreal to keep a good eye on Griezmann and Inigo Martinez. Nothing happened eventually, and Antoine Griezmann went on to join Atletico Madrid.
Since Griezmann’s move to Atletico Madrid, he scored 22 goals in his debut La Liga season, and another 22 the following season, and in all competitions, scored 57 goals in 107 games. He also played a key part in Atletico Madrid’s run to the Champions League final in 2015/16, and also France’s run to the Euro 2016 final, scoring 6 goals in the process, thus winning the Golden Boot. His performances at Euro 2016 also earned him Player of the Tournament and a place in the Team of the Tournament. His performances throughout the entire 2015/16 season earned him 2nd place in the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
Dion Dublin
In 1993, following a chat between Howard Kendall and Alex Ferguson, Everton submitted a £1.5 million bid for Manchester United striker Dion Dublin. However, Manchester United rejected the offer. Manchester United were willing to let Dublin go, but only for £1.8 million. Howard Kendall wanted to take the opportunity, but the board weren’t willing to give him any more funds. Kendall resigned soon afterwards.
The resignation shocked Merseyside, and no-one understood why Howard Kendall resigned. Kendall himself said he resigned because he ran out of self-belief, and he said a few years later that his resignation had nothing to do with Dion Dublin. But given Everton’s reputation at the time, a lot of fans thought otherwise.
Denis Law
In 1959, Everton wanted to sign 19-year-old striker Denis Law. Huddersfield were willing to sell him to Everton in an exchange deal, with Alan Shackleton and Eddie Thomas as possibilities. Huddersfield preferred Shackleton to Thomas and Everton offered £35,000 plus Shackleton for Denis Law. Huddersfield declined the offer, which prompted Everton to offer an improved bid of £40,000 plus Shackleton for Law. Huddersfield declined that offer as well, and there were no further negotiations.
Denis Law went on to play for Manchester City, Torino and Manchester United, and won the European Cup, two First Division titles and the FA Cup. He also won the Ballon d’Or in 1964.
Ivor Allchurch
In 1951, Cliff Britton went to Cardiff to watch Wales v Portugal, where he had his eye on Swansea striker Ivor Allchurch. He was impressed with the 22-year-old but did not submit an offer to Swansea because he thought Allchurch “lacked punch.”
Allchurch was the Gareth Bale of his day: he went on to become known as “The Golden Boy” of Welsh football and he played a vital role in Wales’ run to the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup.
Johnny Haynes
In 1956, Johnny Haynes was among a list of six players who Everton wanted to fill the inside forward role. Ian Buchan said he and the other five players were inside forwards of the very highest calibre and at the peak of their career. However, nothing happened after his name was mentioned.
Haynes went on to become widely-known as Fulham’s greatest ever player, and Pele called him “the best passer of the ball I’ve ever seen.”
Ted Drake
In 1933, Thomas H McIntosh watched 20-year-old Ted Drake when Southampton played Plymouth in the Second Division. His review of Drake was mixed – he said he was “a good shot but poor ball control and poor with his head.” McIntosh also said that he was not ready to join Everton.
The following year, Ted Drake joined Arsenal and went on to win the First Division twice, the FA Cup, and was the top goalscorer in the 1934/35 First Division, scoring 42 goals. He also holds the record for most goals scored in a top-flight game – 7 against Aston Villa in December 1935.
Nat Lofthouse
In 1948, Everton were interested in signing Nat Lofthouse. A certain Mr Williams had a look at him but preferred someone else. Mr Williams watched him again in 1950 and was impressed enough for Everton to make a transfer enquiry. However, Bolton refused to let him leave.
Nat Lofthouse went on to become Bolton’s greatest ever player, he scored 30 goals in 33 games for England and he was the 1955/56 First Division’s top goalscorer, scoring 33 goals.