Everton told 'fair' price to sign Santiago Castro, he's likened to Lautaro Martinez
Everton could have a refreshed forward line next season, and that includes the striker department again.
While a new number nine is important, it is not the priority at the moment for Everton.
Both Beto and Thierno Barry, while not making headlines, have been sufficient given their average game time.
Nonetheless, while other areas such as fullback will be looked at, that will not stop the Toffees creating a shortlist of number nines, with Santiago Castro jotted down as an option.
At 21 years old, the Argentine is still quite raw in terms of his qualities, but he is a star who could certainly grow into the role at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Reports out of Italy have shared Everton's interest, as well as what it could take to bring him to L3.
How much could Everton sign Santiago Castro for?
Top strikers do not come cheap in the market, and Castro would certainly not be on the lower end of the price spectrum.
According to Tuttomercato, Everton are among the clubs that are in the mix for the signing of Castro.
Additionally, it has been reported that a fee in the region of £34.5million to £43.2m is considered to be a "fair offer."
While the Bologna forward only scored seven goals in the Serie A last season, the Italian top flight's defensive nature does make it difficult for strikers.
The top scorer in Italy was Lautaro Martinez, who only netted 17 goals with the next highest being Donyell Malen with 14.
In comparison, the Premier League's top seven scorers would have either finished level or above the Dutchman on the scoring charts.
So, while Castro's overall total is not exactly eye-catching, a move to a league where goals are more free-flowing could be ideal for his development.
What type of striker is Santiago Castro?
With Castro being Argentinian, there are sure to be plenty of comparisons made with his fellow South American natives.
Two of which are Carlos Tevez and Martinez. The Toffees may seemingly be looking at that profile of a forward, with West Ham's Taty Castellanos also linked with Everton and being of that ilk.
The likeness between Castro and Martinez is a luxury that the Bologna forward appreciates, but in 2024, he looked to end the comparison.
Speaking about Martinez, he stated: "At first I was proud because he's an idol of mine, just like Tevez, to whom I've also been compared. But now I prefer to be talked about for who I am. I want to be judged like Santiago Castro, and that's it."
Martinez is a World Cup winning striker and is a starter for the Argentine national side, so if Castro is anything like the Inter man, the Blues would be getting quite the player.