Everton have reportedly lodged an enquiry with FC Porto over the availability of Portuguese winger Otavio, who is protected by a €60 million release clause.
According to O Jogo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Everton are among several ‘mid-level’ Premier League clubs interested in signing FC Porto winger Otavio in the summer. The Toffees have already ‘asked about’ the 27-year-old star and could table a proposal in the coming days.
Otavio came through the ranks at Santa Cruz and Internacional in Brazil before moving to Europe with Porto in 2014. After a 16-month loan stint at Vitoria Guimaraes between February 2015 and June 2016, the winger became a first-team regular for Porto and has made 237 appearances, scoring 24 and assisting 63 goals so far.
Otavio has been linked with a move to the Premier League on several occasions in the past, including last summer when Everton’s arch-rivals Liverpool were credited with an interest. And it seems now the Toffees have emerged as suitors for the 27-year-old winger, who has six caps for the Portugal national team, netting two goals.
Everton are on the lookout for a new wide player this summer as they prepare to part ways with Richarlison. The Brazilian international is in demand in the transfer market and could be headed to one of the bigger teams in England. It would leave the Merseysiders short on quality in the attacking unit.
Frank Lampard’s side are, thus, scouring the market for a new wide forward who can come in and fill the shoes likely to be left vacant by Richarlison’s departure. Wolves winger Adama Traore has emerged as one of the targets for Everton, but with competition for the Spanish international high, the Toffees are keeping their options open.
Otavio, to that end, has popped on the radars of Everton as a target, with the Merseyside giants believed to have launched an enquiry to assess the possibility of a transfer. However, they are not the only Premier League club keen on signing him, with the likes of Newcastle United and Manchester United credited with an interest in the Portuguese forward.
Porto, for their part, are open to the possibility of a sale as long as Otavio’s release clause amount of €60 million is met. Everton, though, are unlikely to be able to afford that sum as they are already under the scanner for a potential Financial Fair play breach.
