Reyes

[Basil Fawlty]

Jose Antonio Reyes: Everton to Rescue £4M Former Arsenal Star from Spanish Nightmare?

Reports in Spain and Portugal suggest Everton are in negotiations with Atletico Madrid to sign former Arsenal star Jose Antonio Reyes.

The 25-year-old’s career has taken a downturn since leaving the Gunners in the summer of 2006 but David Moyes is willing to take a gamble on the talented player as he looks to build on the Toffees excellent performance last season.

Reyes spent last season playing for Benfica on loan where he made 24 league appearances (20 starts) and scored just 4 goals. The Lisbon club finished a disappointing 3rd in the league although they did win a League Cup on penalties against Sporting with Reyes scoring the equaliser in the initial 1-1 draw. The Portuguese giants are rumoured to be in financial difficulty which has made a permanent deal for the Spaniard highly unlikely. This has left the Spaniard facing a return to Atletico where he struggled to start a match.

Despite being just 25, Reyes has already played for five different clubs including Sevilla, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Benfica. He began his career with Sevilla and was extremely popular after scoring 22 goals in 86 league games from a left-wing position. Reyes signed for Arsenal in a £10.5m deal in January 2004 joining a side that were in superb form and would remain unbeaten in the league leading to the tag ‘the Invincibles’. In two and a half seasons the Spaniard scored 16 goals in 69 league appearances in North London (53 starts).

 

[dave1001]

I'd take a gamble for £4 million.
Does have a bit of an attitude but is a good player when his head is in right place. Another Arteta???

Probably just a rumour though.

 

[Dom1878]

Would be good.

 

[Cahill's Metatarsal]

Absolutely definately if we can get him for £4m, don't think that'll be the case though

 

[davek]

The Spanish Franny Jeffers.

I'm sure he'd be ok with us, actually. Mind you, didn't he leave Arsenal because he was home sick for Spain?

 

[lukecrossland]

what a bargin that would be. Could play on the wing / upfront so a good utility player. Would also help to take some of the flair work away from arteta. Would prob give us more freedom on the wings as well, instead of having to play Atreta or Osman on the right.

Not a trusted source tho so doubt there is anything in it.

In bills words........ "Watch this space"

 

[Goat]

Hes been awful the few times ive caught him.

 

[Blue Wiz]

For £4M I'd give him a shot. If he reaches his best form he'd be challenging for the best buy in PL this summer. If not.. well... everything is a gamble, and this gamble would only cost £4M for an eventual huge gain.

My biggest fear is.. his wagedemand. After Arsenal and Real Madrid, I'm fairly certain he's used to a high weakly wage.

 

[Neiler]

Reports in Spain and Portugal suggest Everton are in negotiations with Atletico Madrid to sign former Arsenal star Jose Antonio Reyes. The 25-year-old’s career has taken a downturn since leaving the Gunners in the summer of 2006 but David Moyes is willing to take a gamble on the talented player as he looks to build on the Toffees excellent performance last season.

Reyes spent last season playing for Benfica on loan where he made 24 league appearances (20 starts) and scored just 4 goals. The Lisbon club finished a disappointing 3rd in the league although they did win a League Cup on penalties against Sporting with Reyes scoring the equaliser in the initial 1-1 draw. The Portuguese giants are rumoured to be in financial difficulty which has made a permanent deal for the Spaniard highly unlikely. This has left the Spaniard facing a return to Atletico where he struggled to start a match.

Despite being just 25, Reyes has already played for five different clubs including Sevilla, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Benfica. He began his career with Sevilla and was extremely popular after scoring 22 goals in 86 league games from a left-wing position. Reyes signed for Arsenal in a £10.5m deal in January 2004 joining a side that were in superb form and would remain unbeaten in the league leading to the tag ‘the Invincibles’. In two and a half seasons the Spaniard scored 16 goals in 69 league appearances in North London (53 starts).

An excellent start to his first full season in England saw Reyes score in each of the first five matches but his form waned and rumours of home sickness came to light. He signed a new 5-year contract in July 2005 and played his part in Arsenal’s march to the 2006 Champions League final in where he came on as a substitute in the defeat against Barcelona.

Reyes joined Real Madrid on loan that summer in exchange for Julio Baptista but struggled to break into the first team making just 14 starts in La Liga as well as 16 substitute appearances while scoring 6 goals. Despite a disappointing time at the Bernabeu, Reyes finished on a high as he scored twice on the final day of the season for Real to win the title. The Madrid giants had been 1-0 down when he came on as a substitute and scored with his first touch.

Instead of signing permanently with Real, Reyes moved to their rivals Atletico but again struggled to make an impact. He made 26 league appearances (10 starts) and failed to score. This prompted the club to loan him to Benfica last season after selling 25% of his playing rights to the Portuguese club.

Not only has the player’s club form deteriorated but he has also disappeared from the international set-up. Reyes earnt his first Spanish cap in September 2003 but failed to make the Euro 2004 squad. He was part of the 2006 World Cup squad but has drifted out of the international set-up as his club form has dipped in recent seasons. The Spaniard has won 21 caps and scored 4 goals at that level.

At 25 the player still has the opportunity to return to the top level and David Moyes may be the man to resurrect the Spanish star’s career. Reyes has the pace and dribbling ability to offer something different to the efficient Everton squad so could prove to be an absolute snip at a reported fee of £4m.

 

[Blue Wiz]

As someone said about Owen.. he'd be desperate to return to the national squad and therefore perform if we sign him.. I think the same could be said of Reyes.

Another possible bonus if we sign and get him up to international lvl again, is that with a "big name" like him here we'd get more coverage and PR in other countries.

That said.. I don't think for a minute that we will sign him up.

 

[stinger]

Would take him immediately for this money, but he was homesick in London, so what can living in Liverpool can offer, that London can't?

 

[bluebloodinmyveins]

I liked him when he was at Arsenal, seems like hes gone down hill since then though. if we got the player he was at Arsenal for 4mil, that would be a bargain. Not sure hes anywhere near that level now though, so it would be a gamble.

 

[Blue Wiz]

Would take him immediately for this money, but he was homesick in London, so what can living in Liverpool can offer, that London can't?

One word..



ARTETA!


and some other spaniards in the smaller club that also play in PL in this city.

 

[Azzbot]

£4million I'd take him.

I long for a natural left footer....

 

[Blue Wiz]

Can Pienaar play RM instead? If possible, that would make this "rumour" even more interesting since that would improve our first-11 a great deal. Reyes and Pienaar on either flank.