BBC Sport: Everton also in talks to sign Beto as well as Jack Harrison and Willy Gnonto
Everton have shown an interest in signing Portuguese striker Beto from Udinese as they ramp up their transfer activity late in the window, according to BBC Sport.
The British broadcaster reported on Sunday [13 August] that the Toffees are also looking to sign Willy Gnonto and Leeds United teammate Jack Harrison.
It is said that Everton are not an an advanced stage in discussions for Beto, though they have until 11pm on 1 September to get a deal over the line for the 25-year-old.
Everton finally mean business
Everton were slow off the mark in terms of their transfer spending, despite a promise to not let last season’s latest relegation near-miss happen again, with 38-year-old Ashley Young and Arnaut Danjuma the only players to arrive prior to Friday [11 August].
But the signing of Youssef Chermiti in a £15m transfer from Sporting CP appears to have kickstarted a flurry of activity, with Everton seemingly winning the race for Harrison despite Aston Villa trying to hijack that move (the Athletic).
It means Harrison, Gnonto and Beto may all arrive at Goodison Park in the coming weeks and that would be a major boost for Sean Dyche, who had to rely on the ineffective Neal Maupay up top in his side’s 1-0 home loss to Fulham on Saturday [12 August] in their Premier League opener.
That game was another example of Everton’s profligacy in front of goal, as they had 19 attempts but failed to find a way past Bernd Leno.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin too injury prone to rely upon and Chermiti unproven, bringing in Beto would give Dyche another option up top in his attempt to stave off another relegation battle.
Beto has hit double figures for goals in back-to-back Serie A campaigns for Udinese, having also hit 11 goals for Portimonense in Portugal’s top flight, so he has proved he can find the net fairly consistently.
Landing Beto would help give Everton’s attack a fresh impetus – not to mention the possible additions of Harrison and Gnonto – and may finally give Dyche’s tenure at Goodison Park lift-off.
In other Everton news, Sky Sports journalist Tom White has provided an update on the Toffees’ interest in Leeds duo Harrison and Gnonto.