Everton suffer blow in chase for Malaga striker Sandro Ramirez

Premier League outfit Everton have been dealt a huge blow in their chase for Malaga striker Sandro Ramirez, according to Guillem Balague on Sky Sports (via The Liverpool Echo).

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a stellar season in La Liga, netting 14 goals and laying on three assists to help the club secure an 11th place finish in Spain’s top-flight, 15 points clear of the bottom three.

And his stunning goal-scoring form has alerted several top sides around Europe, not least Ronald Koeman’s Everton, who have scouted the Spaniard at times throughout the campaign given his lowly €6 million release clause.

However, La Liga expert Balague believes that the forward will join Spanish giants Atletico Madrid this summer.

He said: ‘His 6m Euros buy-out clause makes him one of the bargains of the summer and if everything goes the way he and Atletico Madrid wants, he will go to Atletico Madrid with (Alexandre) Lacazette.’

This news will come a bitter blow for Koeman’s Toffees, who were clearly looking to bolster their own attacking options given the uncertainty surrounding the future of striker Romelu Lukaku, and playmaker Ross Barkley.

Belgian forward Lukaku has rejected a new deal at Goodison Park and has been linked with a move away this summer, while England star Barkley has been given a deadline to sign an extension to his current contract, but as of yet has not agreed a new deal.

And Sandro looked to be an ideal option given his remarkably low release fee, as well as his wonderful season in La Liga – yet it looks like the Merseyside outfit will miss out on the 21-year-old top talent.