Everton want to match Inter Milan bid for Wesley transfer

Everton are looking to match Inter's £16.6million bid to sign Flamengo right-back Wesley Franca this month, according to O Dia.

The Brazilian outlet reported in their print edition (6 January, page 16) that having rejected a £12.5m bid from Aston Villa, Flamengo have also been contacted by the Toffees and Inter over Wesley's availability.

With Inter willing to offer the Campeonato Serie A side £16.6m to secure the 21-year-old's signature, the Blues are hoping to reach an agreement for the same fee as they hunt full-back cover this month.

Flamengo, however, have already rejected a similar fitgure from Atalanta, and are keen to hold out for £24.9m for Wesley after their participation in the summer's expanded FIFA Club World Championship.

Everton face financial battle to seal Wesley transfer in January

On paper, right-back is one of few areas in the Toffees' current squad in which they have ample options, but a slight look beneath the surface makes clear that this position is in need of serious attention.

For all that Ashley Young has been one of the more consistent performers in Sean Dyche's side this term, he is both out of contract and turning 40 in 2025, three years older than skipper Seamus Coleman.

Nathan Patterson is also yet to kick on from his mid-season arrival from Rangers back in 2022, and is only just returning from a long-term injury lay-off which saw him miss most of 2024.

While Wesley is yet to garner any experience of European football in his fledgling career, the fact that several of England and Italy's top sides have bid for him shows that he is hot property at the moment.

Potentially able to offer more game-time than Aston Villa, Inter or Atalanta could – depending on Dyche's stance on the move – Wesley could become one of the faces of Everton's new era this month.

In other Everton news, Dan Friedkin's priority regarding Sean Dyche's short-term future has been made clear at Goodison Park.

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