Everton are interested in signing Las Palmas defender Mauricio Lemos in the summer but have been told they must pay his €30m (£25.7m) release clause, reports Diario Sport, via Football Espana.
Lemos only signed for Las Palmas from Rubin Kazan last summer and was even turned down the chance to join Barcelona before Luis Enrique’s side eventually bought Samuel Umtiti from Lyon.
However, the 21-year-old has impressed for the La Liga minnows this season and is now on the radar of Everton manager Ronald Koeman, who is expected to miss out on Burnley ace Michael Keane.
Koeman’s side are willing to pay as much as €20m (17.4m) for the Uruguay centre-back, but Las Palmas aren’t interested in selling one of their best players unless his release clause is triggered.
Not only has Lemos impressed with his defensive duties, but the Las Palmas starlet has also weighed in with five league goals this term. In fact, only two teammates have scored more times for Quique Setien’s side in the league this term.
Furthermore, three of those have been free kicks and only Markus Suttner can claim to have scored more in Europe’s top five leagues (4) this season.
For more stats on Mauricio Lemos, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
