Udinese director Pierpaolo Marino admits that it will be ‘difficult’ to retain Serie A hotshot Beto beyond the summer with Premier League strugglers Everton big fans, speaking to Rai Sport.
In Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton have a centre-forward pretty much tailor made for Sean Dyche. The problem, however, is not with the England international’s suitability but with his availability.
Calvert-Lewin has spent much of the last 18 months stuck on the treatment table. He has already missed two of Dyche’s three Premier League games since taking over from Frank Lampard.
Everton had hoped to bring in Beto to provide some much-needed competition; Udinese rejecting a £20 million bid at the end of the January window (The Mirror).
There is an acceptance, however, that retaining Beto beyond another transfer window is easier said than done, with Everton likely to renew their interest providing they can stave off the threat of relegation.
Everton could return for Udinese striker Beto
“For Beto, the owners rejected a huge offer at the end of January to keep him,” Marino explains. “It will be difficult to do so next year too.”
Beto, a mobile and technical centre-forward in the Victor Osimhen mould, has seven goals in 23 Serie A games this season. Udinese want around £35 million; those lofty demands likely to test the depth of Everton’s pockets with the relegation-threatened outfit under pressure from Financial Fair Play.
“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.”
Everton missed out on a whole host of striker targets in January; Beto just the tip of a very large iceberg. Danny Ings joined West Ham United after the Toffees only went as far as offering a loan deal for the veteran poacher.
Paul Onuachu chose Southampton instead, while 36-year-old Olivier Giroud opted to stay at AC Milan.
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