On August 5, Tutto Atalanta reported that Atalanta, the Europa League champions, are preparing a £17 million bid for the 26-year-old forward.
This development comes almost a year after Everton acquired the player from Udinese for a fee that could rise to £30 million, according to BBC Sport.
Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell suggests that Everton might be compelled to sell the Portuguese forward depending on the status of Calvert-Lewin’s contract. Bardell, speaking exclusively to Goodison News, commented, “The situation is quite uncertain right now, especially with Calvert-Lewin’s contract issues.
Everton would prefer to secure some funds from his sale rather than risk losing him for nothing.
Conversely, if they receive an offer close to what they paid for Beto, it could be too good to decline. If such an offer materializes, accepting it might be necessary.
If Beto doesn’t replicate his form from his first season, Everton might not get near £17 million and could even consider loaning him to Italy or another destination. The striker position is currently unsettled, giving Everton some flexibility in the transfer market.”
Beto’s performance has been mixed; he netted 11 and 10 goals in his two seasons with Udinese but only managed five goals in 37 appearances for Everton, as reported by FotMob.
This underwhelming return, given the investment, could see Everton reassess his value. However, there remains a possibility he could improve in the upcoming season.
His future could also be influenced by Calvert-Lewin’s potential departure, with Newcastle United expressing interest earlier in the transfer window, according to Graeme Bailey.
Regardless of Calvert-Lewin’s situation, Everton’s management, including Sean Dyche, may find it difficult to reject an £17 million offer from Atalanta.
With less than two weeks remaining before their Premier League opener against Brighton, Everton will need to make a swift decision regarding their transfer strategy.
