Barely a week goes by without a Premier League scout attending a game in Portugal and this week was no different.
Everton have pretty much set up camp in the country these days, with it rare that they ever miss one of the big three’s games.
Benfica has been a particular hotspot for them throughout the last few months and A Bola report they were there again last night to watch the Eagles take on Vitória.
What’s interesting is that Porto played at the same time as their rivals and Everton have been scouting them quite often of late as well, so the fact they were at Benfica suggests whoever they were watching there is a higher priority at this point.
And the player they were likely there to watch was Nuno Tavares. The Blues have been linked to the 19-year-old for the last few months, with O Jogo stating back in May that he’s a player they could ‘reserve’.
He’s broken into the first-team this season, making five appearances in all competitions to date, and racking up two assists and a goal in the 5-0 win over Paços Ferreira.
Predominantly a left-back, but playing at right-back this season because of Alex Grimaldo, there’s plenty for Everton to like about Tavares.
He’s a player that likes to cross and has an eye for a key pass, meaning he’d fit nicely into the full-back focused system that Marco Silva likes to play.
His ability to play at either full-back spot is also appealing, with Everton in desperate need of long-term cover for Seamus Coleman and Lucas Digne.
Given this is the latest in a long line of scouting missions to Benfica, the interest is there, and it doesn’t seem like long before the Blues get more serious about their clear interest.
