Merseyside giants Everton are reportedly on the cusp of securing the services of 23-year-old Portuguese wide man Ruben Vinagre on loan.
According to a report by Portuguese publication Record, as relayed by Sport Witness, Ruben Vinagre is closing in on joining Everton on a season-long loan deal. The 23-year-old Sporting CP wide man will become their second signing of the summer transfer window, with the Toffees set to pay his wages in full while reserving the option to sign him permanently next year.
Ruben Vinagre has been a journeyman right from his youth career, as he represented four outfits before graduating from the AS Monaco academy. The Portuguese wide man has played for six clubs without finding a stable footing thus far. The closest he has come to settling down has been at Wolverhampton Wanderers, turning out 32 times for the Midlands club in the 2019/20 season.
The 23-year-old joined Sporting CP last summer but managed only 18 appearances, although that did not stop the Portuguese giants from signing Vinagre permanently. But he will likely depart from the Jose Alvalade Stadium for the fifth loan spell in his six-year professional career, with Everton set to secure his services on a season-long deal.
Frank Lampard has two recognised left-backs at his disposal, with Vitaliy Mykolenko settling down nicely since replacing Lucas Digne. But Niels Nkounkou might leave on loan for a second successive season, thereby creating a spot in the Everton first-team squad heading into the 2022/23 season.
Vinagre has thus emerged as a viable target for Everton, whom intermediaries recently offered the chance to sign Paris Saint-Germain defender Layvin Kurzawa. But the 23-year-old Portuguese wide man is a better option for Everton to consider as he can also play an advanced role on the left flank. And the Toffees are on the verge of completing a season-long loan deal for the Sporting CP wing-back.
Since Richarlison’s departure to Tottenham Hotspur, no wide attacker has arrived at Goodison Park, even though several players, including Adnan Januzaj, have emerged on Everton’s radar. With Financial Fair Play issues stopping Frank Lampard from adding to his squad, securing the services of a versatile wide man like Vinagre might be a step in the right direction.
According to Record, Everton will pay the 23-year-old his €16,000-a-week wages in full while retaining the option to sign him permanently for €10 million next year. The Merseyside outfit will hope Vinagre’s previous experience in the Premier League will enable him to help them avoid another relegation dogfight in the upcoming season.
