Sporting keen to negotiate buy-out deal for Everton loanee Joao Virginia
Sporting are looking to negotiate with Everton to reduce the buy-out clause of goalkeeper Joao Virginia, according to O Jogo (29 March, printed edition – page 10).
The 22-year-old is currently on loan with Sporting till the end of the season, where he has made nine appearances so far.
Sporting have an option to sign him permanently at the end of the season by paying around £2.9 million.
According to O Jogo, Sporting are looking to reduce the buy-out price as they see him as a ‘good option’ for the future.
Good move
Virginia made his debut for the Toffees in September 2020 in the 3-0 home win against League Two side Salford.
The following year, he made his Premier League debut when he came on for the injured Jordan Pickford in a 2-1 home defeat against Burnley.
A few days later, he made his FA Cup debut, where he started in the 2-0 defeat against Manchester City at Goodison Park.
He moved to Lisbon in the summer of 2021 on loan, where he has done relatively well. Sporting’s first-choice keeper Antonio Adan, 34, still has got three years left on his contract.
They are looking for a long-term replacement and as a result, are keen to negotiate a fee to sign Virginia permanently.
Virginia doesn’t appear to have any future at Merseyside, where he would struggle to dislodge Jordan Pickford from the starting line-up.
A permanent move to Sporting would be good for his career, and it remains to be seen if the Toffees accept to sell him at a discount.
In other Everton news, Lampard must back Nathan Patterson according to Michael Ball.
Be sure to follow Goodison News on Facebook for 24/7 updates on Everton plus more exclusive interviews with Kevin Campbell.