English Premiership side Everton are in talks with European champions FC Porto to sign South African striker Benny McCarthy, private radio TSF reported on Tuesday.
McCarthy was the Portuguese league’s top scorer last season with 20 goals but is not seen as a favourite of Porto’s new coach, Vitor Fernandez, who coached the South African player at Spanish side Celta Vigo.
The 26-year-old, who became the first South African to score a World Cup goal in France in 1998, was often relegated to the bench by Fernandez while at the Spanish club.
Porto signed Brazilian international centre forward Luis Fabiano from Brazilian club Sao Paulo on Monday, further weakening McCarthy’s role in the squad.
Everton are looking for a replacement for teenage striker Wayne Rooney, who is set to sign on Tuesday with Manchester United. — Sapa-AFP