Everton could be forced to pay £15 million if Carlos Alcaraz starts four more games in their remaining 11 Premier League fixtures.
The Argentinian midfielder joined Everton on loan from Flamengo during the winter transfer window, with the agreement that the deal would become permanent if he starts at least six games or plays a minimum of 45 minutes in each of those matches.
So far, Alcaraz has made five appearances across all competitions for Everton but has only met the criteria twice.
Former Flamengo Vice President Criticizes Everton Agreement
After Alcaraz played the full 90 minutes in Everton’s 1-1 draw against Brentford on Wednesday (26 February), GE Globo reported that the 22-year-old has reached 30% of the target required to trigger the £15 million fee, with an additional £3 million in potential add-ons.
Alcaraz v Brentford (FotMob)
| Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Minutes | 90 |
| Accurate Passes | 32/40 (80%) |
| Chances Created | 3 |
| Shots | 5 |
| Dribbles | 2/2 |
| Tackles Won | 2/2 |
| Duels | 6/12 (50%) |
Reacting to the report, Marcos Braz, former Flamengo vice president, suggested that the Brazilian club is naive to believe Alcaraz will meet the required target at Everton. However, he added that the Toffees are likely to exercise their option to buy the player regardless.
“Haven’t they realized? He hasn’t, and won’t, reach the target,” Braz wrote on X (28 February).
“The English club will exercise the purchase anyway. That’s already the case.”
Braz also claimed that Everton will end up paying a significantly lower fee than the reported £15 million.
He wrote: “It will not yield Flamengo anywhere near the value stated in the article.”
Alcaraz Proving to Be a Fine Addition for Everton
Alcaraz was Everton’s sole signing in the winter transfer window, as David Moyes chose not to stretch the club’s limited resources further.
Despite his limited appearances, the midfielder has already made an impact, contributing a goal and an assist in his first start for the club during a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on 15 February.
Although he has only featured five times, Alcaraz has shown promise and could become a valuable asset for Everton moving forward.
As a result, it wouldn’t be surprising if Everton finalizes a deal with Flamengo even if Alcaraz doesn’t meet the required target. The club could also attempt to negotiate a lower fee, as Braz suggested.
In the meantime, Alcaraz will be focused on helping Moyes’ side return to winning ways when they face Wolves at Molineux Stadium on 8 March.
