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Everton goalkeeper Joao Virginia will be unveiled as a Sporting player next week, having already finalised the move.

That’s according to Record, who say the Everton man was in Alcochete earlier this week to conduct his medical tests and sign a deal with the Portuguese side.

They confirm the reports that he will be arriving on loan from Goodison Park and that the deal includes a €3.5m option to make the move a permanent one next year.

According to their information, Virginia is set to be the new number two at Sporting, playing a ‘shadow’ role to first-choice goalkeeper Antonio Adán.

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The Portuguese club are set to make a more ‘specific assessment’ on him when he arrives officially from Everton next week, but there is plenty of optimism about the move.

That optimism comes chiefly from manager Rubem Amorim, who commented on the incoming signing and the goalkeeper situation at the club in general.

“He’s an excellent keeper, but he’s not from Sporting yet. It’s a young man with a future, and I can’t say anything else,” the newspaper reports him saying.

“André came to be the third goalkeeper and help in the CNS and now in League 3. He is a goalkeeper with a lot of experience that I knew and a lot of quality, and [Jorge] Vital [goalkeeping coach] gave his approval.

“Callai is a great talent, and we expect a lot of things from him, but he’s 17, and he needs time. Let’s not put that pressure on him as we are talking about a very young player…

“We have other youngsters like Dario [Essugo] who also debuted at that age, but the goalkeeping position is very special and of great pressure.

“Not mentioning about João Virgínia, we have an idea.”