Marcel Brands reportedly wanted Zorya Luhansk goalkeeper Andriy Lunin in the Premier League with Everton but Real Madrid and La Liga is calling.
When you are going head-to-head with Real Madrid in the transfer market, there is a good chance you are going to be left disappointed. Everton have just found this out.
The 19-year-old is one of the world’s most promising young shot-stoppers and became a regular in the Ukrainian league last season despite still being a teenager. And it was understood that Marcel Brands, Everton’s new director of football who has spoken about the importance of youth at Goodison Park, had identified Lunin as a key target.
But he, and Everton, look to have missed out to the talent-hoarding juggernaut that is Real Madrid.
Marca claims that Lunin is set to become Julen Lopetegui’s first signing as Madrid coach and is heading to the Spanish capital for a not insignificant fee of £12 million. It is understood that he will be given his chance in pre-season with Lopetegui then deciding where he fits into his plans.
It will be interesting to see what the immediate future could hold for Lunin in Madrid. Does his arrival open the door for Keylor Navas to leave with another, more experienced shot-stopper seemingly heading to Los Blancos, too?
Either way, Everton have seemingly missed out on a massive talent.
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