The 27-year-old first attracted widespread attention after showing flashes of his ability with Girona during the 2022/23 season. His standout moment came when he scored four times in a La Liga clash against Real Madrid, inspiring Girona to a remarkable 4-2 victory.
His performances convinced Lazio to bring him to Italy in 2023. While he initially needed some time to adapt to his new environment, he eventually found his rhythm and enjoyed a productive 2024/25 campaign, contributing to 19 goals across all competitions.
Following a disastrous start to last season, West Ham moved to sign Castellanos in January as they attempted to preserve their Premier League status. He managed seven goals in all competitions, but his efforts were not enough to prevent the club from suffering relegation. The striker has since made an encouraging start to the new campaign, scoring three goals across all competitions.
According to TEAMtalk, Everton were determined to add another striker on deadline day after allowing Beto to leave for Fiorentina. The Toffees initially considered Folarin Balogun and Joshua Zirkzee as leading targets, but after recognising the difficulty of completing either deal, they turned their attention towards Castellanos.
Everton also explored a move for Tammy Abraham and reached an agreement in principle with Aston Villa. However, the England international ultimately turned down the chance to move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Toffees then submitted a formal £45 million offer for Castellanos, including potential bonuses. The proposal consisted of £40 million in guaranteed payments, with a further £5 million available through add-ons.
Castellanos to Everton
The report claims West Ham were prepared to consider Castellanos’ departure, but they ultimately turned down Everton’s proposal because there was insufficient time remaining in the transfer window to secure an adequate replacement.
Castellanos is a talented forward who is entering his prime years, meaning he could have represented a smart addition for Everton had they managed to complete the deal before the window closed.
Following Beto’s exit, Everton are now left with Thierno Barry as their only recognised senior striker. While Barry struggled during his first Premier League campaign last season, he has made an encouraging start to the current season.