Everton striker Sandro Ramirez is “certain to leave” the club before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper claim the Spanish front man is one of a number of 2017 signings heading for the exit door before the 31 August cut-off for sales.
The Mail report Ramirez is expected to follow Wayne Rooney, Davy Klaassen, Nikola Vlasic and Cuco Martina, the latter three of whom left on loan, as the flurry of exits continue.
Yannick Bolasie and Muhamed Besic have also been strongly linked with loan or permanent departures as Everton look to prune their squad and wage bill following big spending in the last two years.
Good move for Everton?
Ramirez has been a huge disappointment since joining from Malaga last summer for what appeared a bargain price after Everton triggered the relatively insubstantial £5million release fee in his contract. A prolific scorer in La Liga in 2016-17, the centre-forward was one of many Ronald Koeman/Steve Walsh flop recruits. Handed a contract that Spotrac report to be worth £65,000-a-week, Ramirez has failed to live up to his billing, netting just one goal and being shipped out to Sevilla on loan during the second-half of last season. He was named on the bench by Marco Silva as Everton drew 2-2 against Wolves last weekend and featured prominently throughout pre-season, but the arrivals of Bernard, Richarlison and company could limit his game time.
This Is Futbol rating 7/10
Likely to happen?
Espanyol, Celta Vigo and Nantes have all been linked with moves for Ramirez, and it appears a return to Spain is firmly on the cards for the 23-year-old. The one thing that could mean he stays is Everton are not blessed with alternatives to first-choice spearhead Cenk Tosun.
This Is Futbol rating 7/10