Everton transfer news: Toffees 'make offer' for £51.2m Brazilian scouted by Arsenal

Everton have reportedly made an offer to sign Brazilian starlet Alisson Santana from Atletico Mineiro.

Amidst their ongoing financial and ownership issues, many assumed that the Toffees would struggle to recruit their desired targets in the summer transfer window.

However, the sales of Amadou Onana, Ben Godfrey and Lewis Dobbin have helped generate in excess of £65m which has been put towards the addition of five new players thus far.

Indeed, Jake O'Brien, Iliman Ndiaye and Tim Iroegbunam have all completed permanent moves to Goodison Park for a combined fee just under £40m, while both Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom have joined on loan.

Everton manager Sean Dyche is keen to bolster his squad further before the transfer window in England slams shut on August 30, and the somewhat surprise addition of an 18-year-old attacker has been mooted.

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Everton step up pursuit of Brazilian teen Alisson

According to Premier League Brasil, Atletico Mineiro 'already has an offer in hand' from Everton for teenage prodigy Alisson.

It is understood that Everton's offer is lower than the player's €60m (£51.2m) release clause, though, and it remains to be seen whether the Toffees will return with a follow-up bid.

Atletico Mineiro would ideally like to keep hold of Alisson until the end of the Brasileiro season in December, but a 'considerable offer' could persuade them to cash in on the youngster this summer.

In March, Alisson's agent admitted that "it is just a matter of time" before his client leaves Atletico Mineiro and makes the next step in his career, although it is not an immediate concern.

"We are not worried about when Alisson will make money for the company. We know it is just a matter of time, doing the job well, not rushing steps and things will happen as they have been happening," Alisson's agent Andre Kovalski told Trivela.

"The sale of Alisson is not a concern of ours, it will happen, we know that, at the right time"

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Everton face competition for Alisson signature?

Alisson has previously been linked with a number of other European clubs including Arsenal, with a report from Spanish news outlet Diario AS claiming that Gunners scout Paulo Xavier has been following the youngster in Belo Horizonte.

Premier League duo Newcastle United and Fulham, Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven and two unnamed Spanish clubs have also been credited with an interest in Alisson.

Alisson broke into the Atletico Mineiro first team not long after the departure of Savinho, who now plies his trade with Manchester City after completing a £21m move from sister club Troyes earlier this summer.

The teenager has made 29 senior appearances for Atletico Mineiro in all competitions since and including his debut in July 2023, scoring his first goal in a Campeonato Mineiro draw with Tombense in February this year.

Alisson, who has two-and-a-half years remaining on his Atletico Mineiro contract, has been reduced to just 10 Brasileiro appearances in the 2024 campaign after spending two months on the sidelines with an ankle injury, before making his return as a substitute against Cuiaba last weekend.

Written by
Oliver Thomas