The Everton-linked Porto attacker has signed up with Jonathan Barnett – one of England’s top agents.
Yacine Brahimi would have become Everton’s record signing if FC Porto had not demanded more than their £33.6 million summer bid, The Daily Mirror reports.
And though the quick-footed Algerian winger, a two-time BBC African Footballer of the Year, has not enjoyed the finest campaign of his career having lost his place in the starting XI, he remains almost certain to be the next big-name player to graduate from the esteemed Porto finishing school – albeit for a very hefty price.
According to Record, Brahimi has a buyout clause of 50 million euros meaning Everton would have to spend big, or at least increase their monstrous opening offer, to ensure he follows the likes of Hulk, James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao out of the Estadio do Dragao at the end of the season.
Nonetheless, their chances of doing just that might just have been boosted. Record reports that the former Granada attacker has cut ties with agent Francois Gill and instead put his future in the capable hands of Jonathan Barnett’s Stellar Football Ltd.
And while this is no guarantee that a move to England beckons, it’s a pretty good indicator. The vast majority of Barnett’s clients currently play, or have played, in British football from Gareth Bale (below), Adam Lallana, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Luke Shaw to Chris Day, Devonte Cole, Lee Barnard and Gary Madine.
Ronald Koeman’s side are still on the lookout for a marquee signing, a player with the individual quality to close the gap to Champions League qualification and Brahimi fits the bill.
Now just to agree that pesky fee.
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