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Everton and Malaga’s Sandro Ramirez have been going back and forth for what feels like months now. Will he sign? When? Is there an exit clause? Does Sandro prefer Atletico Madrid? Are Borussia Dortmund interested?
Recent reports suggested that the striker is indeed Goodison-bound, but only after Spain’s participation in the U21 Euros is complete. However, that delay has opened up an opportunity for other clubs to register their interest, and it seems one has - the most powerful buying team in the world - Real Madrid.
Per Spanish media giants Marca:
Another player who spent 2016/17 in Andalusia and who has impressed in Poland is Sandro Ramirez and the fact that Alvaro Morata and Cristiano Ronaldo have both admitted their wish is to leave the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu this summer means the addition of another striker could be necessary.
The former Barcelona man has yet to sign with Everton and an Atletico move has stalled so he could be available to whoever pays Malaga his release clause of six million euros.
It’s unlikely that Sandro holds any real loyalty to Atletico - he played for Barcelona, after all - so if Real Madrid are interested in Ramirez’s services, that can only be bad news for Everton.
Sandro would receive more playing time at Everton, but the prestige of the Bernabeu is hard to resist for any player, much less one who sees himself as the future of the Spanish national team.
In truth, it’s fairly disheartening that a transfer with a fee this small has required so many twists and turns. Everton would do well to wrap this up, or walk away.