Joel Robles edging closer to Everton exit

Following the £30m signing of Jordan Pickford it is no surprise to see Joel Robles linked with a move away from Goodison Park this summer.

Despite Ronald Koeman insisting he wanted three senior goalkeepers at Everton, the futures of Robles and Maarten Stekelenberg were thrown into doubt the moment Pickford joined from Sunderland last month.

Out of the two it appears Robles is the more likely to move on from Goodison Park this summer. The Spaniard has already seen his no. 1 shirt taken off him by Pickford and at 27 is at the stage of his career where he should be playing regular first-team football.

He reportedly turned down the offer of a new deal earlier this summer and now looks certain to leave. According to a report in Marca, Deportivo la Coruna have entered the race to sign Robles and have offered him a multi-year contract.

Getafe were linked with a move for Robles earlier this month and it is claimed they are his first choice, but Marca reports their interest has cooled. Newly promoted Huddersfield were also credited with an interest, but the former Wigan man is keen on a return to Spain.

The 2000 La Liga champions are no longer the force they once were at the turn of the century and only narrowly avoided relegation by three points last season. Deportivo along with Leganes and Girona are the favorites to drop next year, an ungracious fall from the ranks of being one of only five teams to win La Liga in the last 17 years.

Robles may well relish the challenge of playing for a side who are once again being tipped to struggle this upcoming campaign. Joel is a likeable character who worked hard to edge ahead of first Tim Howard and then Stekelenberg and earn a regular first-team starting place.

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

On his day he proved to be an extremely capable goalkeeper (think Middlesbrough away). Frustratingly however he would also be prone to lapses of concentration (think Burnley at home) and so was never likely to be Ronald Koeman’s first choice long-term.

A move back to his homeland looks the best option for all parties and he would leave with the good wishes of the supporters.