Agent claims John Textor made Everton transfer decision over Orel Mangala

Orel Mangala’s agent has claimed that prospective Everton owner John Textor made the decision for his client to move to Goodison Park on transfer deadline day. The midfielder had been on the cusp of joining Fiorentina.

Mangala left Nottingham Forest for Olympique Lyonnais – who are owned by Textorm who is in takeover talks to try and obtain Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1% stake in the Blues – on July 2 having spent the second half of 2023/24 with the French side.

He then joined Sean Dyche’s men on a season-long loan just hours before the window closed.

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The 26-year-old’s representative Giovanni Bia claims that Mangala had already agreed to go to Italy before the late interest came in from Everton director of football Kevin Thelwell.

Sport Witness quote Bia as saying: “I had set up the operation with Pradè and Goretti and the requests of Lyon had changed, which had opened up to the loan with the right of redemption.

“The president (Textor) then decided to give him to Everton, and everything fell apart when it seemed that the thing was in the right of redemption

“The loan figures with the right were for a total of 25-30 million. He was almost leaving for Florence but then everything fell through.

“Could the negotiations restart in the summer? Given the great appreciation of the player and Fiorentina, I think so, but it depends on Everton and the path they will take. But I repeat, the player had given his yes to the Viola.”

A senior Everton insider told the ECHO that their understanding is that Mangala didn’t want to leave the Premier League in the first place so when the opportunity to join the Blues came up, he jumped at the chance.

After making his first start at Goodison against Southampton on Tuesday, the Belgium international said: “I think to play in front of the fans for the first time was a good feeling for me.

“I was waiting for this. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win, but it will come, I’m sure.

“A lot happened. We had the international break, then I came back, we played at Villa, and now I had my first start.

“It goes pretty quick, but I’m settling in very well, so I’m feeling good. I missed the Premier League, to be honest. It’s a league that I like a lot.

“I really enjoyed my time in the league at Forest, so I know a bit about the pace and demands of the league, so I’m very happy to be back.”