Udinese striker Beto Betuncal is now ready to accept a last-gasp transfer to Everton as the Toffees close in on finalising terms with the Bianconeri after their first offer failed.
That is according to TuttoMercatoWEB, which reports that Everton and Udinese are close to an agreement regarding Beto’s transfer. The Toffees had attempted to sign the 25-year-old in a €25m (£21.5m) deal. But his Serie A side set up their shop at €35m (£30m) this summer.
Talks remained ongoing after the Udine outfit knocked back the Goodison Park natives’ first bid. And the two teams have found a compromise with a switch worth €30m (£26m) on the verge of completion. Beto will also soon fly to England to undergo a medical on Merseyside.
Everton close in on the transfer of Udinese striker Beto
Everton have long sought to sign Beto but failed to reach an agreement with Udinese for his transfer in January. Yet Sean Dyche is set to land the Portuguese attacker. Everton may even finalise their agreement with Udinese as soon as this Saturday to finally seal Beto’s transfer.
Beto is ready to accept the move to Merseyside once the Toffees and Bianconeri have found a total agreement. He has been at the Dacia Arena since August 2021 after joining Udinese in an initial loan deal from Portimonense. The striker has since scored 22 goals in 65 games.
He has also laid on three assists in all competitions and bagged double-digit hauls in his two Serie A seasons. Beto ended the 2021/22 campaign with 11 goals in 28 Italian top-flight ties and struck 10 in 33 last term. He is yet to score this season through one appearance thus far.
Beto has hit a back of the net once this term after scoring against Serie B side Catanzaro in the Coppa Italia. The Lisbon native also offered an assist to seal a 4-1 win. Udinese started their Serie A season with a 3-0 defeat to Juventus. Now, Beto may miss their second match.
Dyche will hope Beto boosts his goal-shy strike force
Dyche will desperately hope Beto improves Everton’s attack once his transfer from Udinese is ratified. The Toffees are yet to score in the Premier League this campaign. Dwight McNeil was also their top-scorer last term with seven, ahead of Abdoulaye Doucoure with just five.
Former Toffees midfielder Don Hutchinson certainly thinks Beto can be a useful addition for Dyche. But he questions Beto’s output despite hitting double-digits in his two Serie A terms.
“Everton fans looking for a centre-forward, take a look at Beto at Udinese,” Hutchinson said on X. “He showed last night v Juve. When given the right service, he can be very useful. [He is] not prolific but a decent target man that would bring midfielders higher up the pitch.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
