As Sporting try to find a solution to keep João Virgínia at the club following the loan spell he’s just had from Everton, we now get to see two versions of what is happening between the Lions and the Toffees in negotiations.
The Lisbon side had a buying option to get the goalkeeper, and since he wasn’t much used in his year at Alvalade, their intention was actually to either renew the spell or get him for a smaller fee than previously agreed.
Newspaper A Bola today writes that the clubs are set to meet in the next few days. With Sporting saying they’re not triggering the buying option, they’d now negotiate for a new loan.
The Lions’ intention would be to have a very similar deal, perhaps with a discount in the purchase clause, which currently stands at €5m.
However, as newspaper O Jogo also writes about the case, they claim that Everton will not engage in new talks for the goalkeeper, who’s now on his way back to the Goodison Park.
It’s said Sporting recently got in touch with the Toffees to negotiate the price for his permanent transfer, and there was even a meeting scheduled for this week.
Everton ‘rejected’ giving a discount, and that resulted in the end of conversations. So the outlet is now sure the goalkeeper is returning to Merseyside, where his situation is still to be defined, as a new loan would only happen in case he renews his current contract, which expires in 2024.
