Reports from Italy suggest Everton are 'ready for an assault' to sign Udinese forward Beto.
According to Mondo Udinese, the Blues did all they could to secure 25-year-old's services in January. But the Serie A side ultimately opted to reject the approaches from Goodison Park as they needed time to source a replacement.
Udinese manager Andrea Sottil said: "Everton's bid was rejected. It was certainly important for us.
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"It’s not my area, I know the ownership well and I’m delighted with the squad I have and the management. I know very well that they are careful about everything.”
Now the latest reports from Italy suggest Everton are eyeing up a second bid of up to €30m to secure the services of Beto in the summer.
But Udinese sporting director Perpaolo Marino noted that the Blues could face fierce competition for his signature from Serie A runaway leaders Napoli, especially if they were to lose the league's leading goalscorer Victor Osimhen.
Marino said: "Beto at Napoli? He would suit Napoli. Important offers have already arrived from major European clubs.
"Beto's characteristics could be (suitable for) post-Osimhen. He is a young striker who can still improve a lot and it would be an operation similar to the ones (Cristiano) Giuntoli (Napoli sporting director) did this past summer."
Beto is an important player for Udinese and has scored seven league goals and appeared in every one of their 21 Serie A games thus far this season.
The striker also scored 11 league goals last season before sustaining a muscle injury in the final months of the campaign.
Beto signed for Udinese in 2021 from Portuguese side Portimonense, where he came through the youth ranks.
The Lisbon-born striker was included in Portugal's 55-man squad for the World Cup, but was not included in Fernando Santos' final 26 to take to Qatar.
Beto also qualifies to play for Guinea-Bissau as he is yet to earn a senior international cap for Portugal.
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