Manchester United are being linked with a move for Porto forward Evanilson, with the press in Portugal citing interest.
Correio do Manha report United are keen on the Brazilian attacker, who has a release clause of 100 million Euros, a figure of £86 million.
The paper even go as far as claiming an agreement is in place with Porto for a transfer, with United monitoring Evanilson for four months, under the recommendation of former interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
This is a huge claim, and Portuguese sources don’t always prove to be accurate. Newspaper O Jogo claims an initial offer from United worth £55 million has been rejected, with the club seeking closer to £70 million. So in the meantime, lets get to know the forward.
Evanilson: What you need to know
Evanilson has played for Porto since signing for the club in 2020 from Brazilian side Fluminense.
Last season he scored 14 goals in 30 games, also providing four assists, of which 25 matches came as a starter.
He also scored seven goals in seven cup games, taking his goalscoring tally up to 21.
Still only 22, Evanilson has not yet been called into the Brazil senior squad, although has represented his country at under-23 level.
The forward plays mainly as a striker for Porto, and helped Sergio Conceicao’s side win the Portuguese title last season.
Brazilian outlet Lance reported in 2019 that Evanilson was a possible target for Liverpool, but Porto won the race for his signature. The Daily Mail also linked Crystal Palace with a move at the time.
Speaking about his future last week, Evanilson told A Bola: “My dream is to be called up to the Brazilian national team. I worked hard this year for the opportunity to come, I couldn’t, but I’ll keep going. If I’m called up, I’ll be very happy, give my best and be able to help. I think the 2022 World Cup is already too high, but I will work for the next on.
“I’m at a good level in my career, but I’m not top yet. I will continue to work towards it and if any big team comes along…”
United’s interest is not one the Brazilian would turn down, and he would be a fascinating alternative to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Any move from United would be for less than his release clause, possibly around £50 million, and while the claims of an agreement might be too early, it certainly seems like there is some interest there. This is one to watch.