Everton told bid to sign “magic” Serie A attacker £13m short of monster price tag
Everton kicked off their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace, with plenty of David Moyes‘ newest additions featuring at the Hill-Dickinson Stadium.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall opened the scoring with an excellent first-half finish before Thierno Barry’s header secured the three points after the break.
There was also an opportunity for summer signing Brennan Johnson, who came off the bench to make his Everton debut just weeks after completing his unusual move from Palace.
Johnson completed a move to Merseyside earlier this month as part of a straight swap that sent Dwight McNeil to Selhurst Park, with both players signing four-year contracts.
However, the Wales international may not have been Everton’s first choice when they began searching for another winger earlier in the summer.
Everton made £26m transfer bid to sign Jonathan Rowe
According to reports relayed by Sport Witness, Everton made an attempt to sign Bologna winger Jonathan Rowe earlier in the summer. The Toffees are said to have submitted an offer worth €30m – around £26m – for the Englishman. Bologna swiftly rejected that offer, with the Serie A side looking for around €45m (£39m) before considering a sale, which would be a huge fee for a player with just three league goals last season.
It is possible that Rowe was being considered as an option for the role Everton eventually filled with Johnson. There are certainly similarities between the pair, who can operate across the attacking line. Rowe came through Norwich City’s academy before leaving England for Marseille and then Bologna.
Johnson, meanwhile, developed at Nottingham Forest before spells with Tottenham and Palace eventually led him to Everton.
|
Attribute |
Brennan Johnson |
Jonathan Rowe |
|
Age |
25 |
23 |
|
Primary role |
Right-winger |
Left-winger |
|
Preferred foot |
Right |
Right |
|
Style |
Direct runner who thrives attacking space behind the defence |
Explosive dribbler who likes receiving wide before driving towards goal |
|
Premier League experience |
Extensive experience with Forest, Tottenham and Palace |
Previous top-flight experience with Norwich |
|
Big strength |
Off-ball movement and getting into goalscoring positions |
Ball-carrying and creating opportunities through individual skill |
|
Everton situation |
Signed from Palace in the McNeil swap |
Reportedly subject of a £26m bid earlier in the window |
Johnson brings considerably greater recent Premier League experience. He has now made 140 appearances in the competition, registering 26 goals and 17 assists. Meanwhile, Rowe, called a player who can provide “magic” could have given Moyes a slightly different attacking weapon.
Johnson’s greatest strength is arguably his movement without the ball and ability to burst into space behind defenders, Rowe is comfortable receiving possession before attempting to make things happen himself.
That could have made him an intriguing option against opponents who defend deeper against Everton. He is also younger than Johnson and could potentially have offered greater resale value if he continued his development on Merseyside.
Who knows, Everton could look to revise their interest in Rowe down the line, should Iliman Ndiaye depart, but it does feel as though after having a bid rejected, the Toffees made their move for Johnson instead.
