According to The Pitch Prospect, Juventus have launched an investigation into Everton striker Beto.
However, the Toffees are reluctant to let the 28-year-old leave in this transfer window.
4
The Old Lady has made signing a new centre-forward a top priority before the window closes on Monday.
Luciano Spalletti’s side had considered signing Crystal Palce’s Jean-Philippe Mateta after holding talks with his representatives.
Juve were keen to complete a loan deal with an option or obligation to buy at the end of the season.
But they refused to match the Eagles’ £35m valuation of the France international.
Don’t bet on it
This has prompted Juventus to turn to Beto, who has been on Everton’s books since his £25.8m move from Udinese.
However, the move appears unlikely with the Merseyside side unwilling to sell the player so late without an adequate replacement in place.
Beto is just one of two experienced strikers in Everton’s squad alongside Thierno Barry.
As in each of his three seasons in England so far, the Portugal-born Guinea-Bissau international has found goals difficult to come by.
In his first two seasons he scored five and ten goals across all competitions, and in the Premier League he scored three and eight goals respectively.
And this season he has scored four goals, three of them in the top flight.
4
4
His last goal came in the 1-1 away draw at Brighton on Sunday, where he scored the winner in the seventh minute of added time to secure a point for the visitors.
Beto’s goal left Everton boss David Moyes hoping it would boost his season after he spoke out about the player’s problems.
He told The Pitch Prospect after the draw: “I’m really happy for Beto because I’ll say it and it would be hard to say how good a worker he is.”
“He’s doing everything he can to improve his form. And he thrives on goals. He wants to score.”
“And once you’ve scored a goal, sometimes your fortunes can change a little. When I first came to the club this time last year, he scored a brilliant run of goals for me.”
“I hope that maybe this gives him a little bit of a feeling that he can do it again.”
4
With Beto expected to remain at Hill Dickinson Stadium, a new attacker could soon join him.
The Pitch Prospect understands the club will make a major effort to bring Chelsea winger Tyrique George to the club.