Report: Everton tried to sign £30.8m Brazilian forward before he joined Premier League rivals this summer

Everton have shown admirable ambition this summer despite financial issues at Goodison Park.

Kevin Thelwell – Director of Football at Everton – has manoeuvred the transfer market impressively, finding a shrewd loan deal for Jesper Lindstrom, while the £17m signing of Iliman Ndiaye could easily go down as a bargain given the Senegal international’s immense talent.

Jake O’Brien also looks to have real promise – the central defender even managed to score in his first two games after joining Everton in a £16.9m move from Lyon.

Everton also tried to sign another top talent from a major European league this summer – although Manchester City pipped the Toffees to his signature…

Everton tried to sign Savinho

A story from Premier League Brasil now states that Everton had been trying to bring Savinho to Goodison Park for much of 2024 – before the Brazilian sealed a £30.8m move from Troyes to Manchester City.

Both clubs fall under the City Football Group umbrella, so Everton were always up against it in the battle to sign the South American wonderkid.

Savinho – who Arsenal wanted to sign back in 2022 – earned his move to the Etihad Stadium this summer after a spectacular 2023/24 campaign, helping Girona finish third in La Liga with nine goals and ten assists in 37 appearances during a loan spell.

The 20-year-old made his official debut for Manchester City at Wembley in Saturday’s FA Community Shield win against Manchester United.

Kevin Thelwell could still sign a top South American talent for Sean Dyche

Thelwell was not just monitoring Savinho in 2024, as there is another South American winger Everton want to sign, and seemingly have a good chance of doing so.

A story from TEAMtalk stated that Everton hope to sign Paraguay international Ramon Sosa this summer.

The South American is valued at £12m.

Interestingly, the 24-year-old’s club, Talleres, recently posted an official statement which revealed that Sosa has asked to leave, so a move to Goodison Park could well be on.

READ MORE: Everton hit by another major funding blow as £70m payout imminent

Be sure to keep an eye on developments at Everton, as the Toffees hunt for a new winger.