AGENT SAYS ‘EVERTON ARE INTERESTED’ IN £8M ACE WEST HAM WANTED AFTER SELLING RICE

Before you ask, no, it’s not that one. It’s not the £20 million World Cup winner Everton want, but his midfield namesake.

And the interest from the Premier League outfit, it seems, goes back quite a while.

Agent Mauricio Machado, speaking after Sean Dyche’s side rather comfortably secured their top-flight status despite a substantial points deduction, confirmed that his client – a player with a very familiar name – is once again in the crosshairs of the Goodison Park outfit.

“Everton, in England, were interested in Emiliano Martinez a while ago, and now they are interested again. He could be a good option for the middle of the year (the summer window),” Machado tells Sport890.

“Let’s analyse it.”

Everton may have found Idrissa Gana Gueye replacement

As you might have guessed this is not the Emiliano Martinez who haunts the dreams of each and every Frenchman, and has been a colossal presence between the sticks for both Argentina and Aston Villa over the last few years.

This is the Emiliano Martinez of FC Midtjylland in Denmark. A tough-tackling defensive midfielder rather than an elite-level shot-stopper, the 24-year-old Uruguay international may be viewed by Everton as a long-term replacement for Idrissa Gana Gueye.

While still as important and as influential as ever, Gueye is 10 years Martinez’s elder.

“Emiliano is very happy today. He is playing,” Machado adds, Martinez featuring in the last five Danish Superliga games after a long spell out with a muscle injury. Thanks to his last few matches, he is (in line for) the Copa America.”

The agent also believes that Martinez will be packing a bag soon enough, and not just because he is likely to be part of Uruguay’s Copa squad.

“In June, he leaves Denmark,” Machado feels. “We have teams interested in the Premier League and in Spain.”

Agent admits Everton interest in Emiliano Martinez

This is not the first time Martinez, who moved to Scandinavia from Red Bull Bragantino in 2021, has caught the eye of English clubs. Everton, as previously mentioned, are long-time admirers. Luton Town and West Ham United were linked last summer too, Tipsbladet reporting that a fee of around £8 million would be required after The Hammers lost captain Declan Rice to Arsenal.

Time will tell, however, how much Everton have to spend. Their budget, once again, may be restricted by financial concerns, the uncertainty surrounding that long-mooted but highly-complex 777 Partners takeover doing little to quell the concerns over another summer of cost-cutting.

HITC understands that there is interest in Ben Johnson, of West Ham United. Johnson, a full-back who can play on either flank, is out of contract in July. Does this suggest that Everton will once again be dipping into the bargain bin for new signings?