RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Everton are preparing a bid to sign Gremio's Brazil international forward Everton Soares, according to media reports in the South American country.
The 24-year-old has been closely linked with Portugal's Benfica but the English Premier League side have emerged as frontrunners to sign their namesake, the Globo Esporte news outlet said on Saturday.
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti is said to be an admirer of the winger, raising the possibility that he could join Brazil teammate Richarlison in the Toffees' attack next season.
Everton, who is also known as Cebolinha because of his resemblance to a Brazilian cartoon character of the same name, is contracted to Gremio until December 2023.
He has made 268 first-team appearances and scored 69 goals since being promoted from Gremio's youth academy in 2014. For Brazil, Everton has made 14 appearances and was a member of the Selecao side that won last year's Copa America as tournament hosts. Enditem
