An update has emerged on Benfica wizard Everton Soares, regarding interest from the Blues in his signature...

What's the talk?

According to UOL Esportes, via Portuguese outlet A Bola, the Toffees are eyeing up a swoop for the Brazilian and have been tracking his progress for a number of years.

The report claims that AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund are also keen on the forward and will compete with Everton in January.

Get it done

Everton must ensure that they can get a deal over the line for the attacker as he could be "exceptional" for Rafa Benitez in the Premier League.

The £16.2m-rated wizard has shown quality for Benfica in recent years and could bolster the club's options out wide. He has scored 12 goals and provided 16 assists in 73 games for Benfica and caught the eye with some stunning displays last season.

In the 2020/21 campaign, he averaged an excellent Sofacore rating of 7.10 as he produced seven goals and eight assists in just 24 league starts. Soares created eight 'big chances' and averaged 1.3 chances created per game throughout the season, showing off his creativity as a winger.

Andros Townsend (1.9) is the only Everton midfielder and forward averaging more key passes per game this term than Soares did for Benfica. This suggests that he could come in and add to Benitez's options in the forward line by offering a new threat alongside Townsend and the likes of Demarai Gray and Alex Iwobi.

Fortaleza president Marcelo Paz was previously effusive in his praise of the wide man, saying:

“He is a fantastic, exceptional, very talented player, with great dribbling skills. Of course, he will not be (the second coming of) Ronaldo, because he is Il Fenomeno and there is only one. But I assure you that he is a special player, he has all the qualities to become among the best in the world. And besides being strong he is a serious guy."

These comments suggest that he has the potential to progress further and improve. At the age of 25, he still has plenty of time on his side and he could arrive at Everton with both the quality to make an immediate impact and the scope to increase his value over time and develop into a top player on the pitch for Benitez.

AND in other news, Everton to be offered £31.5m-rated beast who's "similar to Xavi", Rafa would love him...