Everton are reportedly interested in making a move for Porto winger Otavio, as manager Frank Lampard looks to reshape his squad ahead of next term.
What’s the word?
According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo (via Sports Witness), the Toffees are one of the clubs who are said to be keen on the Brazil-born, Portugal international, with his current side anticipating ‘proposals’ from interested parties this summer.
The report suggests that the Premier League outfit have ‘asked for’ the 27-year-old, although are aware that they will likely have to meet his €60m (£51.2m) release clause if they are to tempt the Portuguese champions into a sale.
Equally, Lampard and co may not be alone in their pursuit of the 5 foot 8 playmaker, with the £27m-rated gem having also reportedly been the subject of interest from rivals Liverpool.
Richarlison replacement
This news comes amid reports that the club’s current leading man Richarlison could be on his way out of Goodison Park, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealing that Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing the Brazilian forward in the current window.
That potential exit would leave behind a gaping hole in the club’s ranks, with the 25-year-old having proved vital to keeping the club in the division last time out, netting ten goals and providing a further five assists in 30 league appearances despite what was a gruelling campaign on the whole.
The former Watford man – who left Vicarage Road in a £50m deal in 2018 – has scored 53 goals and provided 14 assists in 152 games in all competitions for the club over the past four years, while also forcing his way into international reckoning for Selecao, with 14 goals in just 36 games.
While at times “erratic”, as per BBC Sport pundit Jobi McAnuff, the one-time Fluminese man has undoubted quality that has so often bailed Everton out of trouble in the past, with his absence only set to prove another step backwards for a club who came so close to the brink last term.
In Otavio, however, those at Finch Farm may have found a suitable replacement, with the Porto star also possessing his own attacking quality, having chipped in with three goals and 11 assists in 32 league games in the 2021/22 campaign.
Largely deployed in a right midfield berth, the “phenomenal” gem – as he has been dubbed by one journalist – is also not afraid to carry out his defensive work, averaging an impressive 3.2 tackles per game last term and winning possession 1.3 times per game.
The six-cap gem – who has netted twice for his country thus far – may not quite be the goalscoring presence of the current Everton man, although he has that undoubted knack for unlocking a defence, with the Toffees seemingly in dire need of a creator to pull the strings in midfield.
He certainly won’t come cheap, although investing in the £32k-per-week genius could prove a real masterstroke, as well as helping to ease the possible loss of the outgoing Richarlison.
IN other news, “Everton want..“: David Ornstein delivers huge transfer update, Lampard will be fuming