Everton are in ‘frequent contact’ with Brazilian outfit Vasco da Gama as they battle Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Chelsea for teen sensation Andrey Santos, reporter Lucas Pedrosa writes on his official Twitter account.
Next summer, Tom Davies and Abdoulaye Doucoure will both become free agents, while Idrissa Gana Gueye is also set to turn 34 in less than 12 months’ time. Santos, then, would not only be an exciting addition to Frank Lampard’s rust-encrusted engine room. It would also be a very necessary one.
A box-to-box enforcer renowned for his remarkable physical gifts, Andrey Santos showcased a hitherto-unknown side of his game last season. His eight goals from midfield helped fire Vasco da Gama to promotion, while earning him the admiration of European giants from Barcelona to Chelsea, via Paris Saint-Germain.
Everton, Chelsea and Newcastle United in the race to sign Andrey Santos from Vasco da Gama
Chelsea, The Standard say, are currently ‘expected’ to win the race for Santos’ very sought-after signature. A £12 million move to Stamford Bridge is reportedly close.
He would become the fourth teenager to join Chelsea for big money in the Todd Boehly era; Cesare Casadei, Gabriel Slonina and former Aston Villa wonderkid Carney Chukwuemeka are already through the door.
Newcastle are not giving up just yet, however. And neither are Everton it seems.
The Toffees, Pedrosa says, are in ‘frequent contact’ with the Vasco da Gama bosses. Everton were linked initially all the way back in January, and it seems that they are not yet out of the race, even as Chelsea zoom towards the finish line.
“The whole world wants Andrey,” Vasco da Gama director Paulo Bracks tells ESPN of the club’s homegrown, Rio-born talent. “But he’s from Vasco. He has a contract with us, a strong contract (until 2027).
“And he should go to a South American U20 (Championship with Brazil).
“I can’t guarantee what will happen to him. (I want him to) stay with us, this year, in this Serie A project of ours. But he is a player who is on the market.
