According to reports, Everton are close to inking a deal for Malaga forward Sandro Ramirez. The 21-year-old might not be a renowned name in the world of football but he has caught the attention with his goal scoring antics this season in the Spanish top tier. The La Masia product has reportedly agreed to terms with the Merseyside club and an official announcement is not too far away.
Atletico Madrid and Sevilla are also after him but the lure of playing in the world’s most famous league might be enough to tempt him to the Goodison Park. The Toffees need to spend as little as £5m to rope in the player according to his contract when he moved to Malaga from Barcelona last summer.
Sandro turned down Sevilla’s offer as he seems very excited about the prospect of joining the Premier League and has reportedly given his nod to the move. The Spanish U-21 forward has netted 14 times in the La Liga and also picked up five assists this season. Ronald Koeman was seen in the stands at the La Rosaleda as Malaga routed Celta Vigo 3-0 with Sandro netting the third goal and will have been impressed.
There is no certainty over Romelu Lukaku’s future who is holding off on a new contract. It might be a signal of his departure and if Everton receive a suitable bid they might consider selling him. And they will have a tough task finding an able replacement.
Sandro, A former La Masia graduate has scored seven goals on 32 occasions for the Catalans in the past but due to lack of chances, he opted to move to Malaga on a free transfer for more first team game time. Since his move to the club, he has thrived under the new conditions and has become one of Spain’s hottest properties.
There has been a dearth of quality Spanish strikers as none seem to have that cutting edge that matters but Sandro could be the next hotshot. Tottenham Hotspur have also expressed their interest in the youngster but in the current scenario, it will be hard for him to have a permanent place in the Spurs starting lineup.
Sandro is only 21 and it might take a bit long for him to adjust with the pace and climate of the Premier League, as it naturally happens with the Spanish striker. Koeman is trying to build a long-term project at the Goodison park and Sandro could be a vital cog in his plans. But is he the right man to replace Lukaku?
