Everton received a huge boost in their pursuit of Malaga CF’s in-demand forward Sandro Ramirez as Atletico Madrid saw their transfer ban upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which restricts the Rojo Blancos from signing any player this summer. This paves the way quite clear for the Toffees who are desperate to get a potential replacement for their star striker, Romelu Lukaku, a likely departure this summer.
After having one of their best seasons under new manager Ronald Koeman, the Merseyside club are facing a tough challenge to hold onto their star prospects as they look to challenge for the Europa League next season. However, continuous disruptions in the contract talks have pretty much discouraged the Everton board with the manager even accepting that they are unlikely to hold on to Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku.
Although they have placed a mammoth price tag on both of them to prevent them from leaving, the players’ willingness to move onto bigger entities mean the Toffees are in a disadvantageous position. Hence, the club is looking at the second-best option available, which is replacing them perfectly. And Malaga’s prolific forward has been one of the prime targets for the club.
With Antoine Griezmann a hot prospect this summer, Atletico Madrid had also recognised the 21-year-old as an ideal replacement for the French forward. But, the transfer ban which restricts the club to buy any player for the next six months, means they have to wait until winter to make a move.
And if reports are to be believed then the Merseyside club have apparently agreed on a deal with the striker on principle as they can easily meet his petty release clause of €6million (£5.1m). Toffees’ transfer supremo Steve Walsh is even confident of completing it.
A Las Palmas youth product, Sandro Ramirez was picked up by Barcelona early on in 2009. He developed well in the Catalans’ famed La Masia academy breaking his way up through the ranks confidently before the lack of first team chances and fierce competition in the striker’s position led to Barcelona leaving him last summer. Malaga was fast to grab the player, who had earned comparisons with David Villa and he didn’t disappoint at all.
Ramirez is tremendously versatile in the attacking third as he can play on either flank despite being a centre-forward. He has appeared 28 times in La Liga for Malaga, where he managed to get 14 goals and four assists. His ability to read the game brilliantly makes him a perfect poacher and is regarded by many as Spain’s next big thing.
