A transfer approach for a third choice goalkeeper isn’t usually so dramatic. The deals are done and the goalkeeper is often forgotten about until an injury crisis.
Not so for Everton and Eloy Room, which has turned into something of a drama. On July 23rd Sport Witness covered confident claims from the Netherlands about Room potentially moving to Everton.
Room had snubbed a new deal at current club Vitesse, and with his contract ending in June 2018, a transfer seemed reasonable to expect. Ronald Koeman had set his eyes on the player and the Dutch media estimated a price at €1.5-1.7m.
Then things got interesting.
Everton links went relatively quiet, and Room, just as Vitesse’s manager had picked a new number one, picked up an illness.
It’s fair to say not everyone in the Netherlands believed Room was genuinely sick, with there being suggestion it was the goalkeeper trying to force a transfer, with Everton the only potential destination named.
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf report Vitesse’s coach Henk Fraser believed the illness was real and publicly said Room would attend training on Monday. The goalkeeper didn’t, but he’s shown up on Tuesday.
This has turned into quite a drama and it’s quite possible there’ll be further developments this week.