Everton close to securing Funes Mori

, 21 August, 44comments  |  Jump to most recent
updated The Blues hope to secure the £5.5m transfer of Ramiro Funes Mori from River Plate within the next 24 hours.

The 24-year-old centre half flew into England today from Argentina to finalise the move after personal terms were agreed and the two clubs negotiated a fee. He was photographed in the Hilton this evening with Everton fan James Mitchell whom he told he would be signing his contract tomorrow (Saturday).

Funes Mori, who is reputed to have a powerful shot and provides a threat from direct free kicks, has just broken into the Argentine national team and has one cap.

Roberto Martinez's chief scout, Kevin Reeves, was apparently despatched to South American to watch him in action as River Plate beat Tigres in the final of the Copa Libertadores recently.  



Reader Comments (44)

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Brin Williams
1 Posted 21/08/2015 at 16:21:20
Good, The only thing I remember about the River Plate was the Admiral Graff Spee; let’s hope Ramiro manages to scuttle a few of the opposition too.
Steve Jones
2 Posted 21/08/2015 at 16:30:54
Another Alan Stubbs style defender who is a free kick expert.
Ged Simpson
3 Posted 21/08/2015 at 16:37:38
Argentinian international. Seems good idea to me!
Drew Shortis
4 Posted 21/08/2015 at 16:38:26
I would be happy enough with this transfer. Minimal outlay for a youngish player who, along with Galloway and Browning, will give us the backup for Stones and Jagielka. I would love a Koulibaly, Van Dijk or Dragovic, but I can’t see any of them willing to come in as a backup.

This is all pointing towards us keeping Stones, though I’m sure if we sign him before the deadline the papers will go into overdrive with the rumours despite the flimsy evidence.

Aidy Dews
5 Posted 21/08/2015 at 17:24:54
He's at a good age, likes to get a foot in and by all accounts is very good in the air and useful from set pieces in both boxes which as been a bit of an Achilles heel for us under Martinez!

He's left footed, can play and isn't bad at free kicks either but he's only ever really played in Argentina and it will take him time to adjust to the pace of our league so we all need to give him time and break him in gently.

I'm sure he'll turn out decent and be a really useful squad member.

Mike Allison
6 Posted 21/08/2015 at 18:47:57
You don't get better and move to the next level by signing squad players.

If you buy back-up players you get second-rate players. Part of me is petrified that we've just signed the new Alcaraz.

Having said that, here's hoping that he adapts quickly and proves doubters like me wrong. He's won the Copa Libertadores and apparently has the attributes to do well in England.

Colin Glassar
7 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:01:09
Aidy, didn't he play for Dallas in the MLS for a few years? I think he did.
Mike Gaynes
8 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:05:07
Colin, no, but he was raised in Dallas and played his youth soccer there under the Dallas MLS youth program.
Chris Wilson
9 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:07:41
He was with the FC Dallas youth team for a season, Colin. But I don't think ever played in MLS.
Chris Wilson
10 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:08:16
Ah, Mike beat me to it. Well played, sir!
Steve Jenkins
11 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:27:48
Quick YouTube clip, all I can tell is he’s good in the air with a real leap, scores plenty for a CB. Left footed & can strike ball, scoring a cracking free kick.

The comments that were in English, spoke highly of him in the comments section. Happy enough to wait & see with the signing (as long as we keep Stones), but even if this lad is a quality addition he’ll need at least 6 months to adapt, so selling Stones in this window would be outright crazy.

A transfer request can be turned down, he can go next summer if he really wants to.

Mike Gaynes
13 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:36:25
I'm still quick, Chris!
Chris Wilson
14 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:47:44
Touche, Mr Gaynes. Touche.
Sam Hoare
15 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:58:23
What's all this about us signing some Uruguayan striker from them too? Leandro Rodriguez? Anyone heard anything?
Colin Glassar
16 Posted 21/08/2015 at 20:00:28
It's all over Wikipedia Sam.
Brian Cleveland
17 Posted 21/08/2015 at 20:16:24
Noooooo......

As a junior, he played for Liverpool FC Montevideo!

Alex Parr
18 Posted 21/08/2015 at 20:21:32
Not keen on this one I’m afraid. I hear he is quite error-prone and I think he will join the list of unsensational South American defenders. Godin, he is not. I would genuinely prefer to see us use Browning or Galloway as back-up / squad player, if that's what he is.

And if the unthinkable, that he could be a replacement for Stones (who I think we will keep by the way), then it's a disgrace. If he is intended as a replacement for JS then it should be Koulibaly or Dragovic or similar to be signed, not this guy.

Sorry for the negativity, it's just this signing does not excite me in the slightest.

Michael Patison
19 Posted 21/08/2015 at 20:54:49
Sam: For the sake of clarification, the River Plates are different. Funes Mori's River Plate is an Argentine giant based in (or at least near) Buenos Aires. Leandro's River Plate is a well-respected Uruguayan club (but not at the same relative level as the Argentine side) based in Montevideo. It's just confusing because they share the same name.
Phil Roberts
20 Posted 21/08/2015 at 21:16:35
Same name, different side of the river.

Bit like calling Tranmere Rovers - Mersey A and the team that plays at our old ground Mersey B.

Peter Jamieson
21 Posted 21/08/2015 at 22:06:40
Tim Vickery on TalkSport said he was pants. I know very little about South American football so will take his word on it.
John Otway
22 Posted 21/08/2015 at 22:18:44
Peter. Haven’t we already agreed on here that Tim Vickery is pants. Why take his word for it? Oh and stop listening to TalkSport; it’s the ultimate pants!!
Andy Crooks
23 Posted 21/08/2015 at 23:02:08
If we make this signing, I wonder how quickly he will fit into the Premier League?

If we are unlucky with injuries – we usually are – and say Jagielka gets injured, I would be much happier having Jimmy Evans replace him. An experienced defender for not much more money.

Andy Crooks
24 Posted 21/08/2015 at 23:53:19
Yeah, Jimmy Evans !
Matt Ostnes
25 Posted 22/08/2015 at 01:17:07
The Argentina coach said recently that "Funes Mori is the future of the team". He will probably be the first substitution for Central defender or Left Wingback because in that position usually plays Otamendi and Rojo.
William Cartwright
26 Posted 22/08/2015 at 04:44:40
Hope I’m not speaking too soon, but so far it looks like Roberto is delivering exactly what he said he would. We have kept the team together, added quality in key positions and we shall / should be in a stronger position than before the window opened. Plus some obvious strengthening of the youngsters coming through. Can’t ask for more than that.

ps: Semi off topic but what is the deal with Ryan Ledson? Is he going out on loan as he suggested in a recent post or is he being kept under wraps?

Ciaran Duff
27 Posted 22/08/2015 at 07:13:02
I thought ManUre were asking stupid money for Evans (£12m)?
Maybe RM was waiting for them to drop their price?
Mark Tanton
28 Posted 22/08/2015 at 08:49:18
Jesus - he looks like Oviedo and Red Rum's love child.
John Jones
29 Posted 22/08/2015 at 08:59:58
Pleased with the signing no one can really judge him until he has played a few games.

Tim Vickery is a pundit and not a manager so his opinion about football is as relevant to me as my better half’s about football. If she is talking about shoes, I might pretend to listen... and the same goes for Tim Vickery.

Jim Lloyd
30 Posted 22/08/2015 at 09:06:54
Apart from what he looks like, I think it is a good move. He has a lot of first team experience, can hopefully fit in with the squad, as back up to Jags or Stonesey.

We've got 3 young lads now who can cover left full back and both Centre Half positions. Good move. We would only go for Van Rijk I would think, if Stonesy was leaving.

James Ridley
31 Posted 22/08/2015 at 09:47:11
I am happy with this piece of business. If we can get Yarmolenko and a decent back-up striker, that would be a very good window with the early signings as well. I can also see someone like Lennon and possibly Evans on loan before the end. ... and we will keep Stones.
James Marshall
32 Posted 22/08/2015 at 09:49:37
Could be a decent signing, or not, none of us really know but he’s good cover and competition. We could also play with 3 centre backs as he’s left footed.
Simon Bates
33 Posted 22/08/2015 at 10:02:15
John, I concurr, all in favour of a TalkSport ban on TW say I (obviously with an emergency clause;ie stuck in car with only one way of listening to Everton, live match only).

Oh and if we are going to talk theoretically, can we summise about Dante for £6.4m instead of any Evans please? It really is better to dream big!!!

Aidy Dews
35 Posted 22/08/2015 at 10:28:24
That Tim Vickery fella was saying on Twitter yesterday if he was given the choice of Mori or Alcaraz, he'd have Alcaraz!

That doesn't bode well but his judgement isn't always correct. After all, he did say the likes of Paulinho & Lamela would make Spurs title contenders as their that good!

But not every player takes to the premier league. Look at fellow Argies in Lamela & Di Maria, Lamela was brilliant at River Plate and Rome but as badly struggled in the prem. We all know Di Maria is world class and even the prem got the better of him but that's not to say someone like Mori won't take to it! Look at Demichelis, yeah, originally he struggled but he soon got to grips with it and hopefully Mori can do the same!

He's got the stature and build, supposed to have decent pace, can pass and is great aerially in both boxes, which as been a bit of an achillies heel for us under Martinez.

The lad is going to need time, probably the whole season to get up to speed as the prem is a different kettle of fish compared to any league in the world so let's not pass judgement too soon, he's gonna need more than 10 games to get into the groove!

Brian Williams
36 Posted 22/08/2015 at 10:59:46
He's signing today, in fact he might be doing that right now.

He was in the Hilton in Liverpool last night and said he was going to sign his contract today.

Ognjen Mojovic
37 Posted 22/08/2015 at 11:18:55
If Funes Mori signs for Everton, I think he will be a long-term replacement for Jagielka. He and Stones will be projected as first choice pair of center backs. Now, the other interesting question is, what kind of an atmosphere will it be amongst Everton supporters at Sunday's game? Good luck!
Pete North
38 Posted 22/08/2015 at 13:14:41
Can the club afford to keep buying players on international wages who are not or do not have the potential to be top 6 Premier League players? No. So why does RM keep buying them?

Since 2013, the wages and transfer fees paid on average players would have been enough to get 3 or 4 of the required standard instead of which the squad grows ’window by window’ but the results don’t.

Hopefully Ramiro turns out to be a great recruit but there’s no evidence he will. Sorry... really fed up. I need Yarmolenko to sign.

Nicholas Ryan
39 Posted 22/08/2015 at 13:30:18
Aidy Dews 31 ... I think you're right, the correct comparison is with DeMichelis .. i.e. struggled at first, but now obviously 'the business'.
Colin Glassar
40 Posted 22/08/2015 at 13:46:23
Tim Vickery once said Johnny Evans was better than Jimmy Evans. Need I say anymore?
Nicholas Ryan
41 Posted 22/08/2015 at 14:10:20
If you check out the photograph, we’ve clearly signed Howard Wolowitz from the Big Bang Theory!!
Bobby Thomas
42 Posted 22/08/2015 at 15:57:05
I'm a little concerned Roberto is adding attacking options and not making sure we are solid at the back. Andy Crooks had it at #22: how soon can he adapt?

We have soft center and I am not expecting anything from this young South American this season. He’s going to have to get to grips with it, no preseason with the players, won’t be fit enough for one of the quickest leagues going.

We are light at center half and its likely, imo, this signing won’t change anything this season. Plus we are disorganised anyway.

Paul Kossoff
43 Posted 22/08/2015 at 18:13:40
Steve 11, I don't get this idea with footballers that they need time to adapt. Mori is 24, a centre back; "adapt" to what?

There is the ball, head it; there is the ball, kick it; there is an opponent, tackle him. Adapt to what? football is the game he plays.

Jim Hardin
44 Posted 23/08/2015 at 04:14:20
Argentinian papers claim he has been called up to the National team for the upcoming games. He can't be all bad can he?

Aidy, If Vickery said that then good it works out perfectly. We get this player and he gets Alcaraz so everyone is happy.

Teddy Bertin
45 Posted 23/08/2015 at 12:59:00
Ogbonna had a shocker yesterday. Glad we didn’t splash out on him to sit on the bench. Looks like someone who will take a long run in the team to adapt to the EPL.

That’s right Paul 41, it does take time for players to adapt to different teams and leagues. Ever gone from playing five-a-side once a week with your mates to playing a decent league? It takes some people a long time to tune their brain into the speed of the game.

Doesn’t mean their not good technical footballers or unfit, it’s to do with fine tuning the speed and quality of your decision making. It’s down to footballing intelligence.

James E Evans
47 Posted 24/08/2015 at 18:40:06
The Mirror are reporting he has been refused a work permit.....man, Everton really are useless.

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