Report: Everton eyeing dazzling £44m winger who once turned down Barcelona

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Everton are reported to be in the hunt for a player who once turned down a move to Barcelona as they couldn’t immediately offer him first-team football, and who “wants to reach the highest level possible”.

The Toffees are one of several clubs linked with highly-rated Porto winger Jesus Corona, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola.

As well as Everton, the likes of West Ham, Inter Milan, Roma, Sevilla, Valencia and Schalke are all said to be eyeing the 27-year-old Mexico international.

Corona joined Porto in 2015 from Dutch outfit FC Twente on a four-year deal for €10.5million (around £9million) and has made 211 appearances, registering 26 goals and 51 assists.

This season, the attacker has played 41 times in all competitions and, along with two goals, has claimed an impressive 17 assists.

The report claims that Corona has a buyout clause of €50million (around £44million) and that Porto want the entire amount in his clause despite their need to move players on due to FFP regulations.

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Corona is a versatile player, having turned out on both flanks as a winger, as a second striker and even as a right full-back for Porto in recent months.

He boasts several key traits including pace, technique, accuracy and a keen eye for a shot, as well as being comfortable with either foot – all traits which would make him a great fit for Everton.

Corona is also a highly-driven, ambitious player – his mother told Vice in 2016 about how “Barcelona wanted him to play for Barca B in the Spanish second division but he wanted to play top-flight soccer.”

Likewise, his father told the outlet: “He wants to reach the highest level possible. He always wants more.”

Under Carlo Ancelotti, Everton have shown they plan to reach the highest levels, and Corona could be a great part of that project.