RB Bragantino’s Cleiton a Useful Long-term Goalkeeping Option [Opinion]

Everton’s transfer infrastructure is irrefutably well-developed.

With Director of Football Marcel Brands as its overseer, recent scouting changes have offered further reinforcement to a new-look optimised recruitment team, with a specialisation in European leagues.

Although some newly created roles remain vacant, Everton created seven new roles for potential scouts to identify a multitude of youth targets between the under-13s and under-18s level.

The club has also reconfigured the number of senior scouts covering some of Europe’s top club competitions.

However, Everton are not exempt from the fact that new post-Brexit regulations affecting the Football Association’s player visa system will alter the way in which domestic sides recruit.

European talent will be aligned with non-EU transfer targets in terms of a lack of freedom of movement as EU citizens – with analysis by the Liverpool Echo identifying South America as one hotbed of emerging talent that could become increasingly scouted by English sides.

One listed prospect is Cleiton Schwengber, an impressive 23-year-old ‘keeper with the potential to replace one of Robin Olsen or Jordan Pickford in the long run.

Better known simply as Cleiton, the Echo notes that the fact he plays for a member of the Red Bull group in RB Bragantino is a boost.

The group boasts a formidable record of scouting and developing young talent. Erling Haaland, Timo Werner, Sadio Mane and Joshua Kimmich are just some of the young talents to make the step up in major European leagues from Red Bull-owned sides.

Cleiton conceded just 26 goals in the previous season despite accumulating an Expected Goals against (xGA) total of just 30.5 – making him an efficient option between the posts.

As a consequence, Cleiton has been noted in the analysis for his agility and good reflexes, which would not exactly falter suddenly with a move to Europe.

If Olsen’s loan move is not made permanent and Jordan Pickford requires further competition, Cleiton could be a left-field option to fill the gap were he to look to carry over his promising abilities to Europe.