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Everton join CL club in hunt for Portuguese defender from Euro giants - report
By Danny Wright
Everton have joined a “host” of Premier League clubs in the hunt to sign Wolves’ on-loan left-back Ruben Vinagre, according to a report.
The Daily Mail claims that Everton are tussling with Arsenal and Champions League side Manchester City over the Portuguese defender, who is currently on a season-long temporary deal at Molineux from European giants Monaco.
Vinagre, 18, is a left-back by trade but has been used on the wing by Nuno Espirito Santo with Wolves in the opening months of the season, making eight appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal in the process, which came in a 4-0 hammering of Burton.
It is understood that Everton are looking at the Portugal Under-19 international as competition for the ageing Leighton Baines, despite already having Luke Garbutt and Brendan Galloway on the books at Goodison Park.
French champions Monaco handed Vinagre a new five-year deal in June before he was shipped out to Wolves on loan, but he has never made an appearance for the Ligue 1 giants.
Football Insider Verdict
Everton’s defence has been highly criticised this season, and rightly so after what has been a terrible start to the campaign. Baines used to be one of the top left-backs in the Premier League, but his performances have started to have got worse and looking at a long-term replacement will certainly be a good idea for Ronald Koeman and director of football Steve Walsh. Vinagre is showing a lot of promise and it’s likely that a move to Everton is realistic given that he is playing so well for Wolves. However his new five-year deal at Monaco may bump up his price in what is bound to be a clever move by the Ligue 1 champions before they sent him to the West Midlands.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are planning a swoop of their bitter local rivals for this striker.
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