According to reports coming from The Independent Ronald Koeman side – Everton – are reportedly leading the race to sign Malaga’s Spanish forward Sandro Ramirez in the summer, after the transfer ban on Atletico Madrid was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport earlier this week.
The Rojiblancos were favourties to signing the 21-year-old former Barcelona man, but with them not being able to sign new players for two transfer windows, Everton are in the driver’s seat to hijack Sandro.
Ronald Koeman’s side are in the market for the addition of a new striker to their squad, with current marksman Romelu Lukaku reportedly seeking for an exit in the summer. The 24-year-old Belgian international finished the season as the second highest goal-getter in the Premier League behind Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane and helped them finish in a respectable 7th place in the table in their first season under the new manager. Owing to their 7th place finish in the EPL Table, Everton also managed to qualify for the playoff stages of next season’s UEFA Europa League.
However, with Lukaku strongly keen on leaving, after he refused to sign an extension on his current contract with just a year left on it, Everton’s manager has been active in the market to build a new striker-force. Sandro is someone that the club has scouted extensively and the former Southampton manager himself has seen the Spaniard in action and has spoken in length to his agent.
Sandro is a graduate of the famed La Masia academy of Barcelona and despite having impressed in his first-team appearances, the Catalan giants chose to let him join Malaga last summer for free. He has flourished very well with the Andalusian side, finishing the season with a total of 16 goals and 5 assists from 31 appearances across all competitions.
Despite his tender age, he has showed all the abilities required for developing into a lethal marksman. Sandro has the pace upfront that allows him to run in behind the defences or drift into wide areas and create spaces for his teammates. Superbly confident with the ball at his feet, he completed a total of 24 take-ons from 51 attempts in the La Liga last season, showing that he backs himself to take on his man and beat defences with his speed and dribbling ability.
Much like most players coming through the Barcelona academy, the 21-year-old is a good passer of the ball and possesses the ability to find his teammates in dangerous position or set them through on goal in the attacking third. He also possesses great technical ability which allows him to score from long range and set-pieces alike. Sandro has the upper body strength to hold on to the ball, which is a must for any forward at this present age.
Sandro Ramirez touches almost all the boxes that are needed of a striker to click in the Premier League. However, having never played outside Spain, it is very much possible that he might struggle to make the transition from La Liga to the Premier League. Also, with just a £5.1 million release clause in his contract with the Andalusians, it would be worth a gamble for Everton, because if he manages to get into pace, he will deliver plenty of goals for the Toffees.