If you are going to pick one player who symbolises Everton’s reckless transfer policy in the summer of 2017 Sandro Ramirez would be up there among the contenders.
The Spaniard was seen as something of a coup when the Toffees paid Barcelona just £5million for his services. He had just enjoyed a productive loan spell at Malaga where he had scored 16 goals in 31 appearances and hopes were high when Everton beat a host of rival clubs to his signature.
Sadly, it all went wrong very quickly as Sandro struggled to adapt to the Premier League. He scored just once in 15 games before being shipped off to Sevilla on loan, where he also failed to score.
He is currently on a season-long loan at Real Sociedad where, you guessed it, he has also failed to hit the back of the net in 21 appearances.
Despite his drought in front of goal Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil is reportedly keen to sign the 23-year-old on a permanent basis. The ever-reliable Sport Witness has been monitoring the Spanish media and contains quotes from Alguacil, who says he “would be proud” if the club would make the deal permanent.
They also carry quotes from journalist Jon Trueba claiming neither the fans nor the board are convinced about the player but that Alguacil is likely to push for the move anyway.
However, the main obstacle to any deal would be wages. Sandro still has three years left on his reported £120,000-a-week deal at Goodison, a figure Sociedad wouldn’t be able to get near.
As a result the report suggests the only way a deal could be done is for Everton to agree a pay-off. They could then let him go back to Spain for nothing or for a minimal fee with performance clauses attached.
That would, of course, represent a colossal loss on a player who is still only 23 and it remains to be seen whether the club or the player would agree to it.
But given it appears he has little future at Goodison Park, is it best to just write-off the cash in order to get rid?
It is just one of the questions Marcel Brands will have to deal with this summer as he continues to untangle the mess caused by his predecessor.