Competition looks set to be mounting for Udinese defender Rodrigo Becao as Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly joined Everton in the race for his signature.
The Blues failed to capture the 27-year-old in the summer, it has been claimed, but they are said to be still in the mix to sign him.
However, reports in Italy are suggesting that as the season enters the business end, interest is ramping up for the Brazilian centre-back. He has 18 months remaining on his deal with the Italian outfit, prompting interested suitors who lie in wait for developments on his future.
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According to Mondo Udinese, Sean Dyche's side remain 'in the mix' to sign Becao in the summer. They add the Blues remain the club who are 'most talked about' in the Udinese star's speculation. A fee in the region of €20m (£17m) has been mooted.
For Inter, they will lose Milan Skriniar at the end of his contract after signing a pre-contract agreement with Paris Saint-Germain. Stefan De Vrij is also set to leave the San Siro as a free agent in the summer and it remains to be seen whether Francesco Acerbi will make his loan from Lazio permanent. Therefore, Inter are said to be targeting Becao.
And according to the Italian news outlet, 'they are not the only ones', as Tottenham are set to challenge Everton for the player's signature.
Udinese's technical director Pierpalo Marino explained that they might not be able to refuse a proposal at the end of the season.
"We want to return to amaze as we did at the beginning of the season. We have every intention of making the most of the work done in setting up this team," he told Rai Sport via Sport Witness.
"It is clear that for Becao and especially Beto (who has also been linked with the Blues) the club – and we thank you for this – has renounced a huge offer that arrived in the last days of January to keep him here, but it will be difficult to do so in view of next season. Even if in the end someone like (Rodrigo) De Paul stayed longer than expected due to the requests he had, he made two renewals."
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