Sending Joel Robles back to Spain seems to have been on the agenda for Everton this summer, but they haven’t been able to progress with that so far.
Writing in his column for De Telegraaf at the weekend, Ronald Koeman made it clear he sees Stekelenburg as very much Everton’s second choice, with Robles somewhere behind the Dutchman.
“Last year I signed Maarten Stekelenburg for Everton because there was only one goalkeeper here. There had to be more competition. Maarten won the battle. Due to injury, there was a change later.
“Jordan Pickford has been bought because he is the future for Everton. He is already there, but Maarten continues to make it difficult for him. In the first round of the Europa League and in preseason, Maarten has behaved correctly.
“That is why I think it’s quite right that he is in the preliminary selection of the Dutch team. I see with him every week that he is one of the better keepers of the Netherlands. When he did not get in the Oranje selection a number of times, I found it unjustified.”
Everton have even been linked with moves for other goalkeepers who would conceivably be the club’s third choice, but that would depend on Robles leaving.
A string of Spanish clubs have been linked with the goalkeeper, but none of them have been prepared to put the money up. Robles will be on much higher wages than Spanish clubs would offer him, and that’s even before considering a loan or transfer fee.
Marca say Robles potentially moving to Deportivo La Coruna is off due to ‘economic differences’ between the Spanish club and Everton.
And that’s likely been the story all summer.
