Everton and West Ham United are now showing interest in exploring a transfer for FC Porto winger Goncalo Borges with the versatile gem possibly available for a late deal.
That is according to The Guardian and Fabrizio Romano, with both claiming that Everton and West Ham are interested in signing the 22-year-old. The Toffees are big believers in Borges’ potential. But the Irons are exploring advancing their appreciation to sign the Porto product.
Romano also notes that Porto are potentially open to letting their academy graduate depart before the sales slam shut. Borges has been a part of the Dragoes’ set-up since the age of 14 after leaving their rivals SL Benfica. He has since worked his way through the youth sides.
Everton and West Ham are interested in Goncalo Borges’ transfer
Porto coach Sergio Conceicao handed Borges his senior debut in January 2022, as well. The winger has since amassed 23 first-team appearances. But he has only featured for a total of 254 minutes. The attacker has further never started in a senior game in any competition yet.
In part owing to only playing as a first-team substitute, Borges additionally has never scored or laid on an assist. He was a productive presence with the Dragoes’ B-team, however. After 78 appearances with the Estadio do Dragao team’s reserves, he scored 11 and created eight.
Borges further offered two goals through his 12 career UEFA Youth League appearances. But it was the winger’s B-team efforts during 2022 that established his path into the senior side. Porto even honoured his form with their best young star Golden Dragon award in December.
Now, Borges’ continued presence on only the fringes of Conceicao’s plans at Porto is inviting Everton and West Ham to show interest in his transfer. The winger only played nine minutes in the Supertaca Candido de Oliveira and did not play a second in their Liga Portugal opener.
Sergio Conceicao baulked at letting the winger leave in January
Conceicao has long been a firm believer in Borges and rebuffed interest in his potential loan transfer last winter. O Jogo reported in December that the Dragoes boss issued a firm ‘no’ to any approaches from Vitoria de Guimaraes, GD Estoril Praia, Gil Vicente FC and CS Maritimo.
The Dragoes boss also underlined his stance by pointing to the €50m (£43m) release clause Porto inserted in Borges’ contract when he agreed to fresh terms last July. The forward, who can feature on either side of the pitch, put pen to paper on a contract running to June 2027.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
