Everton have been linked with Atletico Miniero wonderkid Alisson Santana in a bizarre transfer rumour.
The 18-year-old, who can play as a winger on either side or the central attacking midfield position and was a prolific scorer at youth level, has a hefty release clause of around £55m but reports in Brazil say cash-strapped Everton have enquired about him in the event Dominic Calvert-Lewin leaves the club.
The report by GEGlobo, the largest media group in the country, says Everton have not made an official proposal but is preparing an offer for the player.
It also suggests Atletico Miniero needs to balance the books after signing Fausto Vera, Deyverson, Lyanco, Alonso and Bernard in the window.
The transfer rumour is likely to be well received by Everton fans. Alisson Santana is well known as a huge Brazilian talent and has been linked to Arsenal and other European clubs in the last 12 months. However, a move to Everton is extremely unlikely.
Everton do not have the resources to spend £30m-plus on a player and an untested 18-year-old from Brazil, no matter how talented, would not match the club’s recruitment needs in the last few weeks of the transfer window.
The deal would make more sense if John Textor’s rumoured bid for the club was completed as his Eagle Football group owns Botafogo in Brazil and has extensive contacts in the Brazilian market. The group’s takeover is an incredibly early stage with reports of exclusivity not confirmed and the small matter of Textor already owning shares in Crystal Palace. He would need to sell those shares before he was allowed to invest in Everton.