Everton reportedly launched a formal proposal to sign West Ham United forward Valentin Castellanos on deadline day, as per TEAMtalk.
The 27-year-old came into the spotlight having displayed glimpses of his qualities for Girona during the 2022/23 campaign. He even scored four goals in a La Liga fixture against Real Madrid, guiding his side to win the game 4-2.
After being impressed by his performances, Lazio decided to purchase him in 2023. Initially, he took time to settle into his new surroundings before showcasing his productivity during the 2024/25 campaign, making 19 goal contributions across all competitions.
Having endured a dire start last term, West Ham purchased Castellanos in January in a bid to avoid relegation. He scored seven goals in all competitions but failed to help his side keep hold of their top-flight status. The forward has enjoyed a promising start this season, netting three times across all competitions.
Now, TEAMtalk claim that Everton were keen on signing a new striker on deadline day after letting Beto join Fiorentina. They identified Folarin Balogun and Joshua Zirkzee as serious options, but after realising that sealing either deal would be difficult, Everton made contact to sign Castellanos.
Everton were also interested in Tammy Abraham and agreed on a deal in principle with Aston Villa, but the Englishman rejected the opportunity to move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Toffees launched a formal £45m proposal, including bonuses, to sign Castellanos. The structure of the bid was £40m in guaranteed fee, with the remaining £5m in add-ons.
Castellanos to Everton
The report state that West Ham were open to letting the Argentine leave but eventually rejected Everton’s offer as they didn’t have enough time to find a suitable replacement.
The former Lazio star is a talented player and is currently at the prime stage of his career. So, he would have been a shrewd acquisition for Everton had they managed to secure his services this summer.
Meanwhile, following Beto’s departure, Everton have been left with Thierno Barry as the only specialist striker option. Although he endured a difficult debut campaign in the Premier League last term, he has enjoyed a promising start this season.
