Everton can forget about trying to land a Brazilian international on the cheap this summer, with Gremio president Romilo Bolzan telling AreaNapoli that he will not sell Everton Soares for a penny less than £25 million.
In a rather romantic example of nominative determinism, it seems that Everton could be on his way to, well, Everton during the upcoming transfer window.
Carlo Ancelotti has raised an expressive eyebrow in the direction of an exciting, right-footed left winger who shot to fame with a series of Man of the Match displays as Brazil won the Copa America last summer, making everyone forget about the injury-enforced absence of Neymar along the way.
Speaking to SGLR recently, Bolzan claimed that Ancelotti had personally asked his talisman about whether he would be keen on a move to Goodison Park. He then suggested that Financial Fair Play restrictions threatened to scupper the Toffees’ hopes.
Everton has a £70 million release clause in his contract and, in a strained market, Gremio may be willing to negotiate a much lower fee. But, as Bolzan points out in his latest foray into the press, the forward’s price-tag is not going to drop off a cliff any time soon.
“We are not interested in a proposal of £25 million, I can tell you. That would not correspond to the expectations of our club, even with the crisis and the increase in exchange rates,” Bolzan says.
“At the moment, however, we have not received nothing: neither offers of £20 million, nor £30 or £40 million.”
Everton appear to have their hearts set on increasing their Samba contingent at Goodison Park, with Gabriel Veron of Palmeiras, Lille’s Gabriel Magalhaes and a certain Philippe Coutinho tipped to join Richarlison and Bernard at the Gwadlys Street end.
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