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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Rich Jones

Everton eye Rodrigo Becao transfer as Frank Lampard plots summer signing

Everton are considering a move for Udinese defender Rodrigo Becão.

The Toffees narrowly avoided relegation last year and are now facing a big summer transfer window as Frank Lampard looks to strengthen his squad. Despite uncertainty behind the scenes, with four parties expressing an interest to buy the club, they are looking to make moves.

Mirror Football understands that one player of interest is Brazilian centre-back Becão. The 26-year-old, was a mainstay in the Udinese starting line-up last season, appearing in 35 Serie A games.

It is understood that negotiations have not yet started but Everton have sounded out the centre-back, who is valued at around €20million (£17.4m) and is under contract until June 2024.

The defender came through the ranks at local club Bahia before spending a season on loan at CSKA Moscow, appearing in six Champions League games in the 2018/19 campaign including a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Real Madrid.

He joined the Udinese permanently in the summer of 2019 for around £1million and scored his first goal later that year in a 1-0 win over AC Milan. The Italian club could now make a significant profit if Everton decide to act on their interest and make a move to bring him to the Premier League.

Speaking about his transfer plans last month prior to their final game of the season, Everton boss Frank Lampard said: "They are discussions that will happen quickly. I've not felt that yet to be honest but if that is the case we will sit down and probably look at the best way through it... If I had my way, let me keep players that perform really well for the club then we can try and get as far forward as we can.

Becao has been a mainstay in the Udinese defence in Serie A (Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“I have been thinking about that (transfers) and it has obviously been second in the list of priorities because we had to get this done and now we will quickly continue to think about that because we want to take the club forward.

"It has to improve. We have to improve. I have to improve. I have to get to work in pre-season. I didn't have a pre-season [with this squad], now me and my staff do. Can we make the squad stronger and more balanced? I believe we can.

“We will look at everything in that way and it is important we look at it quickly... we have Kevin Thelwell now and we have the board that are interested in trying to get the best out of this club. We don't want to be here next year but we understand if we don't make positive moves it is possible. So we will be ready to move on that quickly."

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