Everton ‘said no’ to signing Bruno Guimaraes and Eder Militao before Newcastle and Real Madrid transfers as agent Kia Joorabchian reveals star players

25/01/2023 14:48

Everton sensationally passed up signing Newcastle star man Bruno Guimaraes and Real Madrid defender Eder Militao. That’s according to leading football agent Kia Joorabchian who joined talkSPORT on Wednesday to refute claims from Simon Jordan that he has too much influence at Goodison Park. Guimaraes has been an absolute revelation since moving to Newcastle – but it appears Everton had the chance to sign him firstGetty Joorabchian joined talkSPORT live on air to hit back at claims he has too much influence at EvertonGetty Joorabchian’s ties with the Premier League club have been a much discussed topic in recent weeks amid Everton’s current struggles, with questions raised over his alleged influence behind the scenes. His relationship with majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has also come into question, having been involved in the deal that saw his client, Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, appointed at Goodison Park in 2019. Another coach he represents, Vitor Pereira, was then linked with replacing Ancelotti when he left the Toffees after 18 months to return to Real Madrid, while Joorabchian also brokered the transfers of three of his player clients Richarlison, Bernard and Anwar El-Ghazi. talkSPORT host Jordan called out the agent for being too involved in the club and too close to Moshiri, accusing him of pulling the strings behind the scenes at Goodison. But the agent called into the White and Jordan show to have his right of reply and push back on those claims, refuting that he has a major influence at the club. In fact, Joorabchian says he has mostly been ignored by the club’s current regime over the years, especially when it comes to transfers. Militao was another player offered to Everton – now he’s playing under ex-Toffees coach Ancelotti at Real MadridGetty Most read in Football Spurs to sign Danjuma and Porro, Chelsea ready £35m Gusto bid, Caicedo to Arsenal update Deeney reveals call from Maguire's agent after his comments about Man United on talkSPORT Ronaldo 'issued two-club ultimatum' to agent Mendes before Manchester United exit Maguire and McTominay allowed to leave, Wolves prepare for departures, Vieira transfer row Farhad Moshiri denies Everton up for sale but owner speaking to 'top investors' Newcastle man Murphy waves Southampton defender Caleta-Car off after red card Of course, that doesn’t mean he didn’t try – it appears Everton bosses just decided not to listen to his advice. However, when you see the list of players offered to the Toffees by the agent, many fans might wish they had. “Of course, as we do, we offered him many, many players, and they turned them all down,” Joorabchian told talkSPORT. “All the signings of the summer – James Tarkowski, Conor Coady, Neal Maupay, Dwight McNeil, the list goes on, all the loans and signings they [Everton] did – were done purely by them and the board. “We didn’t have any involvement whatsoever. “We speak to all the owners, I speak to quite a few club owners [in the Premier League], but the point is, what is our job? Our job is to present what we have as a client list and say, ‘This is what we have’. Guimaraes signed for Newcastle in January 2022 for £40m from Lyon in one of the biggest bargain signings in the Premier League in recent yearsGetty “And Everton haven’t taken any of our advice. So we can’t be that influential. “In the past, we have offered them Bruno Guimaraes at £16million when he was leaving Athletico Paranaense. They didn’t like him and they went for Jean-Philippe Gbamin instead and Guimaraes went to Lyon. “Diego Carlos when he was leaving Nantes, we offered him [to Everton] at £11m before he went to Sevilla, and now he’s at Aston Villa. “We offered them Eder Militao when he was leaving [first club Sao Paulo in Brazil, before he joined Porto – now he’s staring at Real Madrid].” Everton opted to sign Gbamin instead, and the midfielder has failed to make an impact – with the Ivorian currently out on loan at TrabzonsporGetty Images - Getty Ailing Everton fans will be hoping for some good news on the transfer front as their beloved side faces another relegation battle, especially following news their loan for Villarreal forward Arnaut Danjuma has been hijacked by Tottenham. But when asked if further deals are in the works with Everton before the end of January, Joorabchian admitted there is nothing on the table. He added: “Unfortunately at this moment in time we don’t have any players who would suit them in that kind of relegation battle, or I would offer them.” Keep up to date with all the latest news, rumours and gossip with our LIVE transfer blog