Everton are exploring a number of deals this summer transfer window, with Carlos Alcaraz and Thierno Barry already through the door.
Everton are in talks to sign Johan Bakayoko from PSV, although there is significant competition for his signature.
Bakayoko is wanted by Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen, so there is legwork to do on that deal.
Manchester City’s Jack Grealish is also on David Moyes’ radar, with Pep Guardiola willing to sanction his sale.
There is another transfer rumour emerging out of Everton, and Guardiola is a big fan.
Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz.
Photo by Tullio Puglia – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Pep Guardiola has already given Everton his seal of approval to sign Douglas Luiz
Everton are in talks to sign Douglas Luiz from Juventus, who are willing to let him leave for around £34m this summer.
Guardiola had Luiz at Manchester City when he was a young player, and has been highly complimentary of him.
Shortly after City sold the midfielder to Aston Villa, Guardiola explained that he would’ve stayed if he had a work permit.
MORE EVERTON STORIES
“He would be here if the work permit had been possible,” Guardiola admitted in October 2019.
“The work permit was not possible, so loan, loan, and now he’s at Aston Villa. I think we have an option to bring him back.
“But sometimes life is like this. We wanted him because in the last season we had a problem in that position because we didn’t buy a holding midfielder in the last three or four seasons.
“Douglas Luiz – we thought about that. But with the rules in England with the work permit, it was not possible. So that’s why – or I think he would have been here.
“He played in the pre-season last season in the United States, and he was really good. I think he has the quality to play with us but he could not do that.”
A couple of years later, in 2021, Guardiola publicly praised the Brazilian once again.
“He’s a guy who plays all of the minutes. He’s an important player for Aston Villa. A guy who’s clever with the ball, so physically strong. He’s a lovely, lovely guy,” the Spanish coach later added: “Today, when he was involved in the game, defensively, offensively, he was good.”
Luiz and Idrissa Gana Gueye would be an exceptional midfield
Idrissa Gana Gueye has signed a new Everton contract and will have a new midfielder partner next to him this season.
That’s because Orel Mangala and Abdoulaye Doucoure have left, so Moyes appears to be keen on signing Luiz to replace the aforementioned duo.
Luiz would really complement Gueye’s skillset, as he would be the progressive midfielder whilst Gueye breaks up the play and conducts the defensive side of the game.
Plus, the Juve star is a terrific set-piece taker, which is a trait that Moyes’ current squad lacks, so it’s a transfer that really suits Everton.