16/07/2026 18comments  |  Jump to last

(Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

After the distraction of the latest Argentine humiliation, welcome back to the Rumour Mill where Everton Football Club is used as the ultimate leverage tool by continental agents. If you've opened a sports webpage over the last 48 hours, you’ll have seen that the latest name being confidently rolled out is that of Santiago Castro.

Yes, according to the standard collection of click-bait aggregators, the Blues are desperately ready to "break the bank" for Bologna’s 21-year-old Argentinian forward.  And we've heard it all before already after his name popped up out of the blue last November.

If you trace the digital breadcrumbs back through the various echo chambers of the football internet, the entire story rests on a characteristically enthusiastic report from TEAMtalk.

The original narrative claimed Everton were laying the groundwork for a massive bid — with subsequent Italian outlets like Football Italia picking up the trail to explain that it would take "well over €35M" (£34.6M) to get Bologna to even pick up the telephone. From there, the rumour has been laundered through dozens of aggregate sites until it reads like an absolute certainty.

Castro’s contract at the Stadio Dall’Ara runs until June 2028. Crucially, Italian sources explicitly mention that Bologna is currently in active negotiations to hand the striker a "significant" pay rise. Nothing screams "give my client more money" quite like dropping a random link to a Premier League club into the English media...

We are talking about a club that has spent the last few windows meticulously balancing the books and dodging regulatory point deductions. The idea that we are casually preparing to drop roughly £35M on a relatively unproven young striker in Serie A — while trying to navigate our own squad conundrums — seems fanciful at best.

Having played in the European places, Bologna has zero financial incentive to lose a prized young asset on the cheap, labeling a departure as "extremely unlikely" unless an astronomical, un-refusable offer lands.

During the recently concluded 2025-26 Serie A season, Castro was a consistent fixture in Bologna's setup, racking up 2,366 minutes, with 7 goals scored and 2 assists over 23 league appearances.

His final block of matches in April and May saw him working incredibly hard in tight games against the likes of Inter Milan, Juventus, Roma, and Aston Villa in Europe, though the goals dried up significantly toward the tail end of the campaign. He managed a 90-minute shift in a wild 3-3 draw against Inter Milan on 23 May, but didn't find the scoresheet.

Where he genuinely excels is his aerial presence and his work rate. He's a physical, battling type of forward who doesn't mind a good scrap with centre-backs... in true Argentine fashion!

Santiago Castro looks like a very talented kid with a bright future in Italy, but this rumour has all the hallmarks of a classic agent-driven contract play. It generates clicks, it gives the aggregators something to talk about during the long summer break, and it forces Bologna's hand at the negotiating table.

Expect him to sign a shiny new deal in Italy with a massive wage bump before the summer is out, while we might be looking elsewhere for lower-priced reinforcements.

 

 

Reader Comments (18)

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Andrew Ellams
1 Posted 16/07/2026 at 13:06:06
How do players like this get a work permit in a post Brexit world?
Geoff Trenner
2 Posted 16/07/2026 at 13:08:13
They come in on a seasonal fruit-picking visa Andrew.
Don Wright
3 Posted 16/07/2026 at 14:15:57
A big No to any Argentinian player -- ever! I did not support the last one and I will not support any player from there.

Apart from the fact they are cheating bastards, the banner they produced last night is disrepectful, epecially to us ex-servicemen/women.

It has no place in football and I bet you Fifa give them a right telling off.
Frank Worrall
4 Posted 16/07/2026 at 14:40:07
I totally agree with Don. Argentina is a failed state full of ex-Nazis, fascists, criminals hiding from international agencies and other lowlifes.

Its economy is in tatters and only football seems to thrive. As far as I am concerned, we should avoid recruiting from there!
Mick O\\\'Malley
5 Posted 16/07/2026 at 14:42:17
Don the last time they unfurled a banner about the Falklands they got a £20,000 fine.

I bet that taught them not to do it again.
John Collins
6 Posted 16/07/2026 at 16:00:27
Frank.

I'd take a full squad of Argies. Good technique and loads of spite.
Phil Roberts
7 Posted 16/07/2026 at 16:40:44
So, on that basis, we should be selling Charley Alcaraz as soon as possible, take away the cult status of Dennis Stracqualursi and hang our heads in shame of Koeman signing Funes Mori (not sure which we need to hang our heads -- Koeman or Funes Mori... probably both).

Hopefully rumours of taking Sergio Romero as a free agent back up to Jordan Pickford are also false.

>90% of Argentinians are descendents of immigrants and most can't trace their Argentinian ancestory back as far as those living in the Falklands can trace theirs.
Tom Bowers
8 Posted 16/07/2026 at 16:46:25
Whilst Tuchel's tactics in the second half cost England the game, it was apparent early that the Argies came to fight.

Anderson and Bellingham came in for some rough treatment and although the officiating was quite fair overall it did put England out of their stride.

After getting the lead, Tuchel panicked and ruined England's shape, basically inviting Argentina pressure for the rest of the way. When you face outstanding players like Messi and Fernandez, you are running a big risk and there was too much time left on the clock.

Tuchel was a mistake and a new gaffer should be found soon.
Paul Kossoff
9 Posted 16/07/2026 at 16:57:34
Everton consider moving for Manchester City's Rico Lewis? Please God, no! He's a nonentity, he does nothing, achievers nothing. Just makes the eleven up, no!

I would rather have Tom Davis back. While Moyes is at it, why not put in a bid for pineapple Phillips. I'm sure he's available.
Eric Myles
10 Posted 16/07/2026 at 17:01:13
Frank #4, you could substitute most European countries for Argentina in that post, particularly England, Spain, France and Italy.
Steve Brown
11 Posted 16/07/2026 at 17:05:48
“A failed state full of ex-Nazis, fascists, criminals hiding from international agencies and other lowlifes. Its economy is in tatters and only football seems to thrive.”

Sounds like Britain.
Brendan McLaughlin
12 Posted 16/07/2026 at 17:11:17
Apart from the thriving football bit, Steve #11
Dale Self
13 Posted 16/07/2026 at 17:40:39
[snare, snare, cymbal]
Paul Kernot
14 Posted 16/07/2026 at 23:43:13
I was in my local Italian Club during the Euro's when we played Italy in the final. Two of us England fans & 300 Italians. When we scored & Southgate parked the bus & tried to hold on, I said to my mate 'we'll lose 2 - 1 now". Enter Little Tommy Tuchel who did exactly the same with the same result. Gutless coaches. How many more do we need?
Mike Dolan
15 Posted 16/07/2026 at 00:29:15
I would lovingly except any one from any where as long as they come to fight for our success.
Alan J Thompson
16 Posted 17/07/2026 at 10:20:08
I have no objection to his nationality but I am surprised at the reaction on here while barely a word about our new Gerry or the possibility of a Jap makes me wonder if some of you really know how to bear a grudge. Next thing you know we'll have Yorkists on board while Mr Moyes will have to judge the content of their character on the grass.
Si Cooper
18 Posted 17/07/2026 at 00:59:05
“Where he genuinely excels is his aerial presence and his work rate. He's a physical, battling type of forward who doesn't mind a good scrap with centre-backs... in true Argentine fashion!”

You’ve convinced me MK. Come on TFG, make it happen.
Bob Parrington
19 Posted 18/07/2026 at 08:39:30
Has MK been removed from this Thread?

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