Premier League strugglers Everton missed out on Beto during the January transfer window and now the Udinese striker is being tipped to replace Victor Osimhen at Serie A leaders Napoli instead, via Radio Kiss Kiss.
While Partenopei president Aurelio de Laurentiis is keen to point out that he is under no pressure whatsoever to cash in on arguably world football’s most coveted centre-forward, the fact remains that Osimhen remains more likely than not to go the same way as Edinson Cavani, Gonzalo Higuain and co, sooner rather than later.
And finding a replacement would, understandably, be easier said than done.
But, having scored seven goals in just 13 starts for a mid-table Udinese side, just how productive and prolific could Beto be alongside the creative talents of Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and co at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona?
Everton target Beto is ‘very similar’ to Victor Osimhen
“Beto and (team-mate Lazar) Samardzic are players with great prospects. (They) would fit well in a team like Napoli,” believes Udinese director Pierpaolo Marino. “But they also have admirers in other parts of the world.
“Beto could very well be Osimhen’s heir. He’s also young and can improve. He would certainly fit into the purchase models that (Napoli director Cristiano) Giuntoli made last summer.”
According to The Mirror, Everton offered £20 million for Beto towards the end of the January window. Udinese want closer to £35 million, however, for the 25-year-old frontman. A striker who’s emphatic finishing and remarkable athleticism draws understandable comparisons with Napoli’s Nigerian goal-machine.
Beto, since arriving in Italy from Portugal, has 18 goals in 37 Serie A starts in total.
“He has enormous room for improvement,” Marino said in September. “We can only be happy for him, and enjoy him as long as we can. He has the characteristics to become a footballer very similar to Victor Osimhen.”
According to Mondo Deportivo, Everton could return for Beto in the summer.
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