Everton outcast who left this month now closing in on a surprise move to Champions League club

Everton had several first-teamers depart Finch Farm earlier this month upon the expiry of their contracts.

Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are the notable departures this summer, and yet, they’re both still looking for a new club.

Calvert-Lewin has been linked with a move to Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim reportedly eyeing him as a back-up striker.

Doucoure has been mooted with a move to Saudi Arabia, with his lofty wage demands evidently proving to be an issue for Premier League suitors.

Another Everton player who left earlier this month is now on the verge of joining a new club and it may come as quite a surprise.

Joao Virginia close to joining Champions League club
Joao Virginia joined Everton as an 18-year-old in 2018 but only made eight senior appearances for the club.

Virginia initially wanted to sign a new deal with the Toffees, but ultimately, both parties decided it was best for him to move on upon the expiry of his contract.

The 25-year-old is now a free agent and according to Record, he is closing in on a surprise move to Portuguese champions Sporting.

Having been the second and sometimes third choice keeper on Merseyside, it’s quite a jump to join a Champions League club as a replacement for Franco Israel.

Sporting do have Rui Silva at the club and it appears he will be the number one, but the second-choice keeper last year played pretty frequently in Europe.

So Virginia will certainly get his fair share of minutes by the looks of it.

Mark Travers looks a top replacement for Virginia
Everton did consider Sheffield United’s Michael Cooper as a replacement for the departed Virginia and Begovic.

However, Cooper has reservations about joining as a back-up to Jordan Pickford, so Moyes instead signed Mark Travers from Bournemouth.

Travers joined in a £4m transfer from Bournemouth and is already impressing his teammates in the short time he’s been at Finch Farm.

He’s only recently turned 26, so perhaps he is viewed as a long-term successor to Pickford, who isn’t getting any younger.