Rafael Benitez insists the surprise signing of Anwar El-Ghazi was not forced on him by Farhad Moshiri and maintains the loan will benefit Everton.
Everton’s transfer policy under the Iranian billionaire has been chaotic and El-Ghazi hadn’t even featured in Benitez’s recruitment plans for this window until his name was mentioned when Aston Villa opened negotiations over Lucas Digne.
Benitez met Moshiri on Thursday at the club’s Finch Farm training base for lunch, during which time they discussed future targets and the direction of a season during which Everton have struggled desperately for form.