Go For It Koeman – This £5.1m Former Barcelona Attacker Would Be A Shrewd Signing For Everton

Why Sandro Ramirez Is A Good Signing For Everton

As per reports from The Independent Everton are reportedly leading the race to sign Malaga’s Spanish striker 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 favourites to clinch the signing of the 21-year old former Barcelona man, but with them not being able to register new players for two transfer windows, Everton are in the driver’s seat to sign Sandro.

The Toffees are in the market for the addition of a new striker to their squad, with current marksman Romelu Lukaku reportedly heading 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 Everton finish in a respectable 7th place in the table in their first season under new boss Ronald Koeman. Owing to their league finish, the Merseysiders also managed to qualify for the playoff stages of next season’s UEFA Europa League.

However, with Lukaku intent on leaving, after he refused to sign an extension on his current contract with just a year left on it, Koeman has been scouring the market to build a new strike-force. Sandro is someone that the club has scouted extensively and the former Southampton manager himself has watched the player in action and has spoken in length to his agent.

The 21-year old is a graduate of the famed La Masia academy of Barcelona and despite having impressed in his first-team appearances, the Catalans chose to let him join Malaga last summer for free. Sandro has flourished very well with the Andalusian outfit, finishing the season with a total of 16 goals and 5 assists from 31 games across all competitions.

Despite his young age, Sandro has displayed all the traits required for developing into a lethal marksman. The Spaniard has the pace upfront that allows him to run in behind the defences or drift into wide areas and create spaces for his teammates. Extremely confident with the ball at his feet, Sandro completed a total of 24 take-ons from 51 attempts in the La Liga last season, indicating that he backs himself to take on his man and beat him with his speed and dribbling ability.

Much like most players coming through the La Masia, Sandro is a good passer of the ball and possesses the ability to find his teammates in dangerous positions or set them through on goal in the attacking third. The 21-year old also possesses great technical ability which allows him to score from long range and set-pieces alike. He has the upper body strength to hold on to the ball, which is a must for any forward in the current times.

Sandro ticks almost all the boxes that are needed of a striker to click in the Premier League. But having never played outside Spain, it is very much possible that he might struggle to make the transition from the La Liga to the English game. However, with just a £5.1 million release clause in his contract, it would be worth a gamble for Everton, because if he manages to get into his stride, he will deliver plenty of goals for the Toffees.