By Anthony Onifade

18th May, 2023 | 5:10pm

Everton transfer news: Jorge Mendes handed remit to sell £8.7m target Raul Garcia with Toffees in hot pursuit

Real Betis have put super agent Jorge Mendes in charge of selling striker Raúl García this summer, with Everton following him closely, according to Estadio Deportivo.

The 22-year-old Real Betis hitman has undergone a stunning La Liga 2 campaign during the 2022/23 season, bagging 19 goals and six assists from 36 appearances

Estadio Deportivo reported on 7 May that both the Toffees and Brighton were interested in his signature, with both clubs “convinced” he can perform in England should he make the move this summer.

Now, according to a new report from the Spanish outlet [18 May], Betis have put super agent Jorge Mendes in charge of selling the striker as the club look to comply with financial fair play rules.

It is believed that Everton are closely following the wonderkid striker and there is a starting price of €10m (£8.7m).

“Mendes has very good contacts in the Premier League and that would open even more doors for him. When the season ends and Raúl closes his tour of Burgos, all the parties will sit down and present the offers that he may have.”

Exciting deal

Everton have desperately needed a goalscoring striker all season, having sold Richarlison to Tottenham for £60m last summer and boasted one of the worst scoring records in the division.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s struggles for fitness for much of the campaign and Neal Maupay’s failure to set Goodison Park alight since his move from Brighton, the Blues will be prioritising a move for a quality number nine this summer.

Certainly, Garcia is somewhat an unknown quantity to some Everton fans, but Brighton’s interest in the player too should give the Toffees bosses all the indication they need that the 22-year-old could well turn out to be a potential gem.

26 goal contributions (19 goals and seven assists) in 36 outings for CD Mirandes is no mean feat and he also recorded a total of 91 shots since the start of the campaign, which is higher than any other member of his team, as per FBRef – highlighting that he isn’t afraid to shoot when given the opportunity, a trait shot-shy Everton have sorely missed this season.

Garcia may prove a bit of a risky transfer, but it is certainly one worth taking. The club can ill-afford for their rivals to steal a march on potential hidden games for much longer. Everton must get in on the act too.