Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge has told The Transfer Tavern that he expected James Rodriguez to leave Everton on deadline day.

Rodriguez joined from Real Madrid last summer when he linked up with Carlo Ancelotti for the umpteenth time in his career.

However, despite a promising start on Merseyside, the Colombian has been unable to remain fit through 2021 and hasn't been involved in any of Everton's four competitive matches this season.

In the lead up to the 11pm deadline on Tuesday, The Guardian claimed Everton were close to bringing in Porto attacker Luis Diaz, with Rodriguez to head in the opposite direction to Portugal, although any deal failed to materialise.

Rodriguez featured heavily in pre-season, but his Everton career took a major turn for the worse when he revealed on Twitch that he wasn't sure who the Toffees were playing ahead of their trip to Leeds last weekend.

Bridge told The Transfer Tavern that he believed Everton were desperate to move on the midfielder on, and it remains to be seen whether he will reintegrated by manager Rafa Benitez now.

"There was talk of a swap deal with Porto for Luis Diaz. They'll have wanted him out the door, because God knows what his wages must be."