According to reports from The Metro this morning, Everton have beaten Tottenham Hotspur to the signature of Barcelona prodigy Sergi Roberto.
The 23 year-old is highly-rated at the Nou Camp, particularly famed for his tough-tackling and long-range passing game, but has struggled for first team opportunities this season and wants to leave in the summer – making only three starts out of a possible 30 in La Liga.
Spurs and Stoke City are also keen on the playmaking midfielder but The Metro quote Spanish sources in claiming negotiations over a move to Goodison Park will begin imminently, with Roberto ‘accepting the transfer’ in principal.
Roberto has made 29 La Liga appearances since his Barcelona debut in 2010, and has been part of a squad that’s claimed two La Liga titles, the 2011 Champions League and the 2012 Copa del Rey in the last five years.
He’s perhaps better famed for his exploits with the Spain junior sides, however, scoring a hat-trick against Burkina Faso during the 2009 U17 World Cup and represented La Rojita 39 times across all age groups.