Rui Silva: Everton target agrees on Real Betis transfer ahead of Granada exit | OneFootball

Marcel Brands must seal a deal with AS Roma for on-loan goalkeeper Robin Olsen to join Everton permanently this summer, after rumoured target Rui Silva agreed to sign for Real Betis.

What’s the word?

According to ABC de Sevilla, Silva has reached an agreement with Betis to join Manuel Pellegrini’s side at the end of the season once his contract with Granada expires.

Los Verdiblancos had tracked the shot-stopper’s situation for some time and are fully convinced by his potential to succeed at the Estadio Benito Villamarin next season.

Betis had the option of paying Granada a compensatory sum to sign Silva during the recent winter market, though the 27-year-old sought to see out the campaign at the Nuevo Estadio de Los Carmenes despite also having other offers on the table.

Everton were claimed to have been one of the other interested parties by Estadio Deportivo, who noted last month that the Toffees had offered the most lucrative terms of any side and that Carlo Ancelotti’s outfit were expected to convince Silva to agree to a move.

The £9m-rated ‘keeper was also on the radars of Atletico Madrid and clubs from Italy’s Serie A, after a strong La Liga season that has featured seven clean sheets in 23 appearances so far.

He will now move to Betis at the end of the campaign having already formalised his agreement with Pellegrini’s outfit, where his contract is said to feature a significant termination clause.

How should Everton react?

While Everton’s interest in Silva was noted last month, Ancelotti also confirmed that the Goodison Park outfit were hopeful of concluding negotiations with Roma that would see Olsen’s loan deal turn permanent.

And while talks eventually broke down before the winter market slammed shut, the Italian stated that discussions would continue in the coming months in hopes of keeping the Sweden international – whom he lauds for being “calm” in his performances – on Merseyside.

Ancelotti continued to lavish Olsen with praise amid criticism for first-choice goalkeeper Jordan Pickford last month, noting how he considers the pair to be on an even keel.

“Honestly, when there is a big difference between the first and the second goalkeeper, I was not used to rotating the players. But when the quality of both of them is quite the same, I was used to rotating. Like I did in Real Madrid and in Napoli and like I am doing here,” he said, via quotes by The Telegraph.

Everton’s Director of Football Brands should now be driving even further efforts to retain Olsen following the claims from Spain of Silva agreeing to join Betis, knowing how highly Ancelotti values the £19,000-per-week Roma loanee and the need for a quality challenger for Pickford.

Olsen’s performances in recent weeks while Pickford was sidelined with an abdominal injury certainly appeared to have sparked the England international to thrive on his return to action.

The ex-Sunderland shot-stopper proved his doubters wrong with a sublime showing in Saturday’s Merseyside derby win at Liverpool, Everton’s first at Anfield since 1999.

AND in other news, Everton eye free transfer of £113k-p/w maestro who “always gives everything”…