Where’s my signings, demands Koeman as Everton are outfoxed
RONALD KOEMAN complained that Everton are not doing enough to recruit his signing targets, in the wake of their defeat to Leicester City in the FA Cup.
A home knockout at the tournament’s first hurdle would have been hard enough for Evertonians to palate. They had seen their side take what appeared to be a decisive lead through Romelu Lukaku, but their dreams of ending a 22-year trophy drought were extinguished by a double from Ahmed Musa.
Yet what will have angered them just as much was Goodison manager Koeman’s assertion that the club — or, more specifically, director of football Steve Walsh — is not moving quickly enough to close deals.
Koeman is desperate to sign Morgan Schneiderlin from Manchester United. At the time being, though, negotiations are deadlocked after United rebuffed Everton’s £19million bid.
‘If everybody had their eyes opened today, maybe we will get further in our improvement as a team because that’s what the team needs,’ said Koeman.
‘I have that in mind and the board knows because we spoke together about what we need, what the team needs and that’s the job of Steve Walsh.
‘I can explain more but they are talks we need to have inside the club.’
Everton took the lead in the 63rd minute, when substitute Gerard Deulofeu went through the gears and raced to the byeline before firing in a cross which Lukaku could not miss. It should have given the home side lift off.
However, Leicester hauled themselves back into the game three minutes later. It was a poor goal for Everton to concede but it was one the champions merited, with substitute Musa bundling in at the second attempt after fine work by Demarai Gray.
The Foxes settled the issue when Musa exchanged passes with Danny Drinkwater, slicing Everton’s defence in half, before crashing a drive past Joel Robles.
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri was delighted to be able to congratulate his much maligned forward.
‘I’m very pleased with our performance and it is important for Musa — he is more confident now,’ he said.