Everton remain Mauro Icardi option as striker responds to unemployment criticism

Everton continue to be linked with free agent Mauro Icardi, with the Argentine striker insisting he is in no rush to find a new club despite remaining without a contract.

Icardi is still available a month after the summer transfer window closed. The 33-year-old has now posted pictures showing himself training, dismissing suggestions that his time without a club means he is short of options.

Everton and Tottenham have both been mentioned as potential destinations in England. However, Tottenham have already submitted a full 25-man Premier League squad, while Everton named only 19 senior players.

That potentially leaves David Moyes’ side with a clearer route to signing Icardi if their previous interest develops.

According to TyC Sports, Everton and Tottenham both made enquiries about Icardi, although neither club progressed beyond that stage.

The striker has now responded publicly to questions surrounding his future.

“They confuse unemployment with failure, I call it having my life sorted,” Icardi said. “They confuse being without a contract with having no options. I call it freedom of choice.”

He also made clear that he is financially secure and feels no pressure to accept a move simply to return to football immediately.

“I worked to own my time, to have my future secured,” he added. “If I stopped working, my life would remain the same.”

His training pictures also push back against previous suggestions that he had stopped preparing and could potentially retire.

For now, Icardi appears determined to wait until he finds an opportunity that suits him.

PAOK and Olympiacos are also reportedly interested, although TyC Sports claims both remain some distance from satisfying Icardi’s demands.

Potential moves back to Italy have also failed to materialise, with Lazio and Fiorentina previously mentioned.

That keeps England among the possibilities.

Tottenham's squad situation creates an obvious complication, whereas Everton reportedly have six available spaces on their senior Premier League list.

There is still no indication that Moyes or Everton are actively pushing to complete a deal. The most recent information suggests their involvement has remained at the enquiry stage.

However, as long as Icardi remains a free agent, Everton continue to stand out among the English clubs linked with him because they have the squad capacity to make a move.

Everton can afford to monitor the situation because Icardi is a free agent and therefore does not need to be signed during a transfer window.

The key question is whether their initial enquiry ever develops into something more substantial. With spaces available in their Premier League squad, the Toffees have fewer registration obstacles than Tottenham.

Icardi, meanwhile, appears prepared to wait. Interest from Greece has yet to satisfy his demands, potential Italian moves have not materialised and he insists he remains comfortable with his situation.

Unless Everton decide they need another experienced striker, their interest may remain exactly where it currently stands: an enquiry rather than an active transfer pursuit.