On Saturday, Portuguese newspaper Record had big news on Everton’s chase for William Carvalho. They claimed that club director Steve Walsh was in Lisbon to watch the player, and the Toffees would now be preparing a €35m for the midfielder.
In that story, Record made it clear that Everton consider this an ‘opening bid’ to start talks with the Lisbon side, so at least it shows that the Merseyside club know what they are doing.
According to another Record story from the weekend, framed within Everton’s Carvalho interest, Sporting will not sell any player in the January market, as they expect to challenge for the league title this year.
The Lions are currently having a good campaign, and with Benfica going through a crisis, it’s now or never for Jorge Jesus’ side to lift the trophy.
That’s why the players would only leave in January in case their release clauses are met, and in William’s case, that would mean €45m.
Not much above Everton’s initial approach, then.
Record also claims that the players have their ‘body and soul’ focused on the club, so it’s unlikely that any of them would force a way out.
Knowing it’s unlikely that Sporting would make a discount in the summer, maybe Everton should just add other €10m and end this story for good. They’re not going to get a bargain, as West Ham found out, and €45m isn’t such a ridiculous amount any longer.
The message is clear from Sporting, and it’s now over to Everton.
