Carlo Ancelotti has addressed rumours linking him with a James Rodriguez reunion at Everton - as he makes a "good players" signing vow.
The Blues boss signed Rodriguez when in charge of Real Madrid before re-signing when he moved to become manager of Bayern Munich.
Rodriguez has been heavily linked with a move to Goodison but Ancelotti was down-playing the prospects despite admitting he likes the player "a lot".
The Colombian is one of several of Ancelotti's former players being touted as on Everton's wishlist but the Italian appeared to our cold water on the prospect of them joining him at the club.
But he has promised that the Blues will add quality to their squad this summer.
"We need good players," he said, when asked about Rodriguez, Thiago Silva, Adrien Rabiot and others.
"The players that we are going to sign will be good players. It doesn’t matter whether they are young or old; with experience or without experience. It is important to have good players.
"The names that you mentioned are the same names that were mentioned one year ago when I was in Napoli; two years ago when I was in Bayern! They follow me!
"James Rodriguez? I like, I like a lot as a player. When I left Madrid, James Rodriguez followed me to Munich. He came to play. But he followed me as a rumour to Napoli and now he is following me to here Everton as a rumour. I have to be honest – I like him a lot.
"But he is a Real Madrid player. I think he will still be a Real Madrid player."
Ancelotti has hinted that Everton have identified a high number of potential transfer targets but says his focus remains the final five games.
"As I said: I have to be honest. We are looking for players," he said.
"But I do not have to look at the players that I already had – I know them. What we are doing now is to prepare well for the games, to prepare well for the end of the season. We are looking for players....honestly, there are a lot of good players around the world."
