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Should Everton seize £22m chance as Ricardo Pereira eyes Premier League move?

Sam Allardyce, Manager of West Ham United celebrates after the final whistle during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Bristol City and West Ham...
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Premier League quartet Everton, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal all want Ricardo Pereira from Primeira Liga contenders FC Porto.

Porto's Portuguese defender Ricardo Pereira (L) vies with Benfica's Argentinian defender Franco Cervi during the Portuguese league football match FC Porto vs SL Benfica at the Dragao...

One day after A Bola claimed that Everton had joined the race to sign Porto full-back Ricardo Pereria, Sky Sports have claimed that the Portugal international is keen on a move to the Premier League this summer.

And this might just rule out the possibility of the 24-year-old signing for Serie A giants Juventus, resurgent La Liga outfit Valencia or Ligue 1’s Nice, where Ricardo impressed on loan between 2015 and 2017.

Nice's Portuguese defender Ricardo Pereira(C) vies with Nancy's French midfielder Youssef Ait Bennasser during the French L1 Football match between OGC Nice and AS Nancy Lorraine at the...

Sky Sports point out that Ricardo has been offered a new contract by Porto with his current deal set to expire at the end of this season, but he is tempted to try his hand in England and could therefore be available for around £22 million.

Everton, however, are not the only Premier League outfit interested in Ricardo, who tends to play at right-back but can also fill in on the left, in defensive midfield or in a more advanced wing position.

North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are both in the race, despite boasting Serge Aurier, Kieran Trippier and Hector Bellerin between them.

Aves' Brazilian forward Amilton Silva (L) vies with Porto's forward Ricardo Pereira during the Portuguese league football match CD Aves vs FC Porto at the Aves stadium in Aves on November...

Leicester City are interested too, after Marc Albrighton started at right-back ahead of Danny Simpson for the goalless draw with Southampton last Thursday. Interestingly, Foxes boss Claude Puel was in charge of Nice when Ricardo impressed during the 2016/17 season.

But reports that Ricardo wants to head to England this summer should make Everton an attractive destination. And considering that he could support Seamus Coleman, provide back up to Leighton Baines and provide more thrust and quality in the final third, £22 million would look like a bargain in today’s market.