Everton scouting Atletico Mineiro left-back Guilherme Arana at the Olympics
Everton are running the rule over Atletico Mineiro left-back Guilherme Arana at the Olympics, according to Torcedores.
The Toffees have been keeping tabs on the 24-year-old Brazilian for five seasons, and have now sent one of their scouts Jamie Hoyland – a specialist in the South American market – to watch the full-back in Tokyo.
The Brazilian outlet claim on their website that Arana is one of the players Everton manager Rafa Benitez desires to bring to Goodison Park this summer.
The former Sevilla left-back has a release clause of £34.14million (€40million), and Mineiro will only sell him if suitors pay the full fee.
Needed?
Everton have the brilliant Lucas Digne as first-choice left-back, with Niels Nkounkou and Ben Godfrey able to provide cover.
We do not know what the future holds for highly-rated youngster Thierry Small, but we have enough depth in that position, and it is surprising to be linked with another left-back.
Arana featured in all three group stage games for Brazil at the tournament, assisting once, and is expected to play when they face Egypt in the quarterfinal today (Saturday).
He ended the 2020 season with four assists and six goals in 37 league goals but is yet to score or assist in 2021.
The Brazilian struggled during his first stint in Europe, playing just 12 La Liga games in the two seasons he spent in Spain before returning to South America.
Arana’s form back home has caught the eyes of clubs in Europe again, but the Toffees should be looking to strengthen at right-back instead.
With Small likely to force an exit and Nkounkou still yet to reach his potential, Benitez could indeed be keen on landing another left-back, though.
However, we do not see Everton splashing the cash on one, and £34million for a player that failed to prove himself on the continent looks too steep.
In other Everton news, new Toffees player speaks out about Benitez training methods, reveals Spaniard is onto him.
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