By George Overhill

8th Feb, 2023 | 12:10pm

Everton ready to return to Udinese for Beto in summer after £31million January bid, more likely for success

Everton seem ready to make another attempt to sign Udinese striker Beto in the summer after being disappointed last month, according to Mondo Udinese.

The 25-year-old Portuguese forward was one of numerous targets that the Toffees missed out on in the winter transfer window, despite doing “everything they could” to sign him.

Gianluca Di Marzio reported live on Sky Sports News on deadline day (31 January, 5:15pm) that the club had made a bid of €35million [£31million] but it was unsuccessful.

The striker is said to be in the sights on many sides for the summer, and because there would be several weeks available to source a replacement it is seen as more possible that he would move on, with €25million to €30million [£22.2million to £26.6million] the likely asking price.

A similar offer to the one put in on the final day of January looks like having far more chance of success than it did just over a week ago.

Revisit

A lot of things can change in six months and Beto has only scored one of his seven goals this season since the turn of the year.

Despite the sale of Anthony Gordon to Newcastle last month it is unlikely that there is going to be a massive war chest available to spend in the summer.

So forking out anywhere near £30million for a goalscorer will require it to be someone who is in form and likely to be able to replicate it at Goodison Park.

It goes without saying that Premier League survival will also be necessary, but Dyche’s start has renewed optimism that will be secured.

Beto looks to be available at the end of the season, and clearly the brains trust at Everton valued him enough to put forward a big sum for him last month.

Whether that eagerness will remain over the ensuing months remains to be seen, but they are certainly going to need to be more successful in the next window than they were in the last one.