Sporting Lisbon are close to finalising an agreement with Everton to sign goalkeeper Joao Virginia on loan for the 2021/22 Primeira Liga season, according to O Jogo.
The shot-stopper will fly out to Portugal later this week to complete a temporary move to the Estadio Jose Alvalade. Sporting only have a few final details left to resolve with Everton chiefs before having a total agreement in place for the 21-year-old.
Everton have sought to loan Virginia out for the campaign after Rafa Benitez signed Asmir Begovic from Bournemouth. The experienced Bosnian replaces former Roma loanee Robin Olsen as Jordan Pickford’s deputy, and Benitez will expect him to rival the England ace.
Virginia received several enquiries over potential loan transfers away from Everton before they settled on a move to Sporting Lisbon. O Jogo noted last week that Championship sides also sounded out his potential availability, along with further foreign top-flight outfits.
The Liverpool Echo also note the progress of academy stopper Harry Tyrer over the last 12-months helped convince Everton to sanction a loan exit for Virginia. The £10,000-per-week talent has only made three senior outings for the Blues since joining from Arsenal in 2018.
Virginia additionally only made three first-team appearances while on loan at Reading for the 2019/20 season. A deal that Everton cut short at the midway mark after failing to feature in a matchday squad between games eight and 26 of the Championship season.
Virginia will now rival Antonio Adan and Luis Maximiano for minutes in the Sporting Lisbon goal next season. Maximiano was the favoured option in 2019/20 before Adan joined from Atletico Madrid. The 34-year-old Spaniard kept 19 clean sheets in 32 games last season.
Virginia set for big test away from Everton at Sporting Lisbon
Virginia will face a big test in his next adventure from Everton by joining defending Primeira Liga champions Sporting Lisbon. Adan played a key role in Ruben Amorim’s title success last term, keeping a league-high 19 shutouts.
The former Atleti ace also registered a greater clean sheet to appearance percentage than anyone who played over five games. And already has one from two outings this season, after Sporting opened the campaign with successive wins.
Virginia will back himself to challenge Sporting’s Adan after impressing in place of Pickford and Olsen at Everton last term. He also shone for the Toffees’ U23s under David Unsworth, who once told the Liverpool Echo that Virginia’s a ‘revelation’.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
