Everton’s £14m bid for Andreas Samaris rejected as Benfica hold out for £17m for Newcastle target

BENFICA have reportedly rejected a £14million offer from Everton for Andreas Samaris.

Newcastle are also keen on the Greek defensive midfielder, with the Portuguese giants thought to be holding out for £17.5m.

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Samaris, who has won 28 caps, is the latest name to be linked with the Toffees, with A Bola claiming the Portuguese champions have swatted away an opening bid.

Ronald Koeman continues to target signings that will push his spending well over the £100m mark.

Reports in Portugal also claim trying to smash their transfer record again with a £39m bid Mexican hitman Raul Jimenez - who is a team-mate of Samaris.

As exclusively revealed by SunSport, Wayne Rooney will make an stunning return to the Toffees by the end of the week.

The free-spending Merseysiders are also expected to net Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud for around £20m.

And, according to Portuguese paper Record, the Toffees have also slapped in a mega bid for Jimenez - who is also on the radar of Liverpool and West Ham.

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The player appeared open to a Prem move last week when he told told ESPN: "The Premier League is a great championship, but you have to wait.

"I don't close any doors and we'll see what happens."

Benfica’s record signing joined from Atletico Madrid for £18.9m in 2015, netting eight times last season.

He was on course to sign for West Ham when he left the Rojiblancos, but allegedly overslept and missed his medical.

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However, it was also suggested agent Jorge Mendes was not keen on Jimenez moving to East London at that time.

Now he could be in line for a move to Goodison Park for a fee that would eclipse the £30m deals done for Michael Keane and Jordan Pickford.

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Ajax skipper Davy Klaasen has arrived for £23.4m, with striker Sandro Ramirez signed for £5.2m.

They have also paid £6.8m to net Nigeria international striker Henry Onyekuru, 20, from Eupen, before loaning him out to Anderlecht.

Rooney should be next in, with Everton picking up his £250,000-a-week wages on  a two-year deal.

Koeman is splashing Farhad Moshiri's cash, with around £100m incoming when Romelu Lukaku seals a move to Chelsea.