Everton have become the latest Premier League side to be linked with Richard Ríos. There are fresh claims from Italy suggesting the race for the Benfica midfielder is continuing to grow.
The Colombian has been one of the busiest names in the rumour mill over recent weeks. Manchester United, Fulham and, more recently, Bournemouth have all been credited with interest. Napoli have consistently been described as the Italian club pushing hardest.
Now the queue has grown another bit.
Everton join Premier League queue
According to Italian journalist Salvatore Ferrante, Everton have joined Bournemouth and Fulham in showing interest in Ríos.
Fulham’s name has appeared regularly across reports from Colombia, Portugal and Italy. Meanwhile, Bournemouth only emerged last week as a potential suitor.
But Everton are a completely new addition to the picture, further strengthening the impression that Premier League clubs continue to monitor the Colombian closely.
Even so, there is still little evidence that any English side has progressed beyond the enquiry stage.
Napoli still leading the way
Ferrante’s report also contains another new detail. According to the Italian journalist, if Richard Ríos does leave Benfica, his preferred destination would be Napoli because of the opportunity to play Champions League football.
Previous reports from Portugal suggested the midfielder was happy in Lisbon and was not looking to force an exit. However, it was said that he valued working specifically under José Mourinho, so maybe their managerial shift that culminated in Marco Silva’s appointment could make a difference.
Benfica’s position has also remained firm throughout. They have insisted they would only consider selling if an offer was considered irresistible.
Ferrante’s claim does not necessarily contradict that stance. Instead, it offers a glimpse into what Ríos’ preference could be if he eventually decides to leave Portugal.
Benfica still hold the cards
Benfica remain in complete control. The midfielder is under contract until 2030 and protected by a €100m (£87m) release clause. Club officials have repeatedly been described as relaxed about the situation, believing there is no need to rush into a sale.
Their original hope was that the 2026 World Cup would push Ríos’ value even higher before any negotiations took place. However, that has not quite happened so far. The Colombian has spent much of the tournament on the bench and made brief appearances from the second half.
Even so, interest has not disappeared. Everton have now joined Bournemouth and Fulham among the Premier League clubs being linked. And of course whether any of those clubs are prepared to match Benfica’s demands is another question entirely, but the list of suitors continues to grow.