Atletico Madrid left-back Santiago Arias claims he has not spoken to Everton sporting director Marcel Brands and he wants to stay put. The 27-year-old Colombia international has been identified as a possible target for Toffees’ boss Marco Silva this summer given that Brands signed the player from Sporting Lisbon when he was in a similar role at PSV Eindhoven.
Arias has been valued at around £11million and would be an ideal signing given that Jonjoe Kenny is now on loan at Schalke 04 and Seamus Coleman has struggled with injury problems. However, Arias, who only moved to Spain from PSV last summer in a £11m deal, is adamant that he has not spoken to Brands and he has no plans to leave the Wanda Metropolitano this summer.
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He told Algemeen Dagblad: “I didn’t talk to Brands. “I am focused on the Copa America with my country. We will see what the future holds. I still have a contract with Atletico, so my future is there right now.” Arias added: “It’s an honour to have played 33 matches this season with Atletico Madrid in Spain.
Obviously I want to play more, but we will go step by step. I want to play here in Copa America and give what I can. “Later we will see what will happen with Atletico Madrid. Now I have a contract with Atletico and I have to wait to see what the club says.”
