Joao Virginia twist on cards at Everton amid Premier League transfer pursuit
Joao Virginia is exploring his options after entering the final six months of his contract at Everton, according to Ben Jacobs.
The journalist reported via his personal X account on Tuesday (14 January) that the goalkeeper is attracting interest from clubs in the Premier League and Championship.
Jacobs does not mention if a transfer exit is potentially on the cards during the ongoing transfer window for Virginia, who has made just two appearances this season, but adds that the Toffees have the option to extend his deal by another year.
Joao Virginia must move on from Everton
Virginia has been a loyal servant since joining Everton from Arsenal’s youth ranks in 2018, functioning as the deputy to Jordan Pickford for the most part.
Having played second fiddle to the England international for years, now may be the right time for the shot-stoppers to move elsewhere in search of regular playing time.
At 25, the Portuguese is entering the peak years of his career and he would not want to spend it on the bench at the Merseyside-based club.
Therefore, he is right to consider his options, although the Toffees hold an option to extend his contract until 2026.
A move to a Championship club might make more sense for Virginia if he is prioritising playing time.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if the Goodison Park outfit would prefer selling the goalkeeper for a cut-price fee this month or losing him for free at the end of the season.
Virginia is unlikely to command a significant transfer fee anyway, so there is no harm in keeping him until the summer.
In other Everton news, finance expert Stefan Borson has slammed the Premier League over the Toffees’ case.
For more Everton news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.