Report: Everton identify Wolves loanee Ruben Vinagre as potential Leighton Baines competition

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Ruben Vinagre has been impressive for Wolves since arriving at Molineux from Monaco – and has caught Everton’s eye.

Few Everton fans would have shed a tear when long-serving understudy Bryan Oviedo departed Goodison Park on a permanent basis for Sunderland in the summer.

The Costa Rican’s exit, however, leaves Leighton Baines as the only senior left-back at Everton’s disposal with Brendan Galloway loaned out to Sunderland and Luke Garbutt omitted from the club’s 25-man Premier League squad.

Though The Mail reports that Everton have identified on-loan Wolves talent Ruben Vinagre as potential competition for Baines, who will celebrate his 33^rd birthday in December.

Vinagre, meanwhile, is 15 years younger than The Toffees’ number three and has been earning rave reviews for his performances with the Championship league leaders in the early stages of the season.

The 18-year-old moved to Molineux on a season-long loan from AS Monaco and has started six league games. Though looking a little lightweight, his technique and attacking intent has made Vinagre a vital part of Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad.

Portuguese publication Record reported this week that Wolves were hoping to land the former Sporting Lisbon youngster on a permanent basis in January but faced interest from a number of Premier League clubs.

Arsenal and Manchester City are understood to have followed Vinagre since he played a starring role as Portugal’s Under-17s won the European Championships back in 2016.

Though with Everton aiming to ensure a bright future on Merseyside by bringing together some of the brightest young talents in European football, The Toffees could be a force to be reckoned with in pursuit of one of the Championship’s most exciting players.