Toffees keep tabs on Man Utd misfit Nani for after Sporting spell ends

Everton, even-money with Coral for a top 10 finish in manager Roberto Martinez’s second season on Merseyside, could launch an audacious summer bid for Manchester United-owned winger Nani.

The Portugal international, 28, is spending this season on loan at former club Sporting Lisbon where he has netted nine goals in 26 outings across all competitions so far. Among those is a recent long-range stunner that reduced Nani to a tearful celebration, which you can view below.

Scoring 29 goals and making 56 assists in the Premier League during almost 15 outings for the Red Devils, Nani’s form has been a mixed bag in England. At Old Trafford, however, he has put together a considerable trophy haul of seven major honours, including the 2008 Champions League.

Capped 83 times for Portugal, Nani has always been in compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow somewhat, but Toffees boss Martinez is understood to be looking at bringing in another wide option permanently.

For this season and last, Everton have loaned in Christian Atsu (owned by Chelsea) and Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona, now out at Sevilla) respectively, and both have struggled to make an impact because of respective poor form and injuries.

The Toffees have taken the likes of Phil Neville and Darron Gibson from Old Trafford in recent years, and are also linked with snapping up midfielder Tom Cleverley, loaned to Aston Villa for the campaign, when his deal expires.

Nani, under contract at United until 2018, is likely to command a fee in the region of £15m, though, and has high wage demands. This kind of spending detracts from the Goodison Park recruitment policy somewhat, but Martinez did break the bank to splash a club record £28m on purchasing Romelu Lukaku permanently this past summer.

Louis van Gaal is rumoured in the tabloid press to be considering Nani’s future at Old Trafford, and could choose to sell him, especially with wingers out of favour as the Red Devils presently favour a midfield diamond.

Everton have struggled to mount another top six push, but are going great in the Europa League as they hold a last 32 4-1 aggregate advantage over Young Boys Berne. Martinez is 16/1 to steer the Toffees to that European trophy.