Everton may not have formally entered negotiations for Issa Doumbia yet. However, their interest is already having a very real impact on the midfielder’s future.
Reports from Portugal we covered last weekplaced the Toffees among several Premier League clubs tracking the Venezia midfielder.
Now, fresh claims suggest Sporting CP are accelerating their efforts. This comes amid growing concern the English market could push the deal out of reach.
The 22-year-old has become one of the most wanted players outside Serie A after a superb campaign with Venezia.
Doumbia finished the season with 10 goals and five assists in 38 appearances. He helped the club secure promotion while establishing himself as one of the standout midfielders in Serie B.
Everton are not alone either. Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Brentford have all been linked in recent days. Meanwhile, Benfica, Juventus and AC Milan are also credited with interest.
And Venezia are clearly enjoying the situation.
Everton interest already changing market
Portuguese newspaper O Jogo reports Sporting are preparing a trip to Milan this week – potentially even today. The aim is to try and move ahead of the growing competition and convince Venezia to sell one of the key players from their promotion-winning side.
What initially looked like a deal around €15m (£12.8m) is now drifting much closer towards the €20-25m (£17.1-21.4m) range as more clubs emerge around the midfielder.
Everton’s interest is part of that shift. Even without formal negotiations from the Premier League side yet, Venezia know English clubs can quickly change the dynamics of a transfer.
Doumbia is 22, athletic, productive and coming off the best season of his career. The Italian club are in no rush to undersell him.
According to the report, Benfica already made an approach worth €15m (£12.8m) plus bonuses, only to receive indications the proposal still fell short of Venezia’s expectations.
That rejected Benfica offer effectively helped establish a higher market floor around the player.
Sporting trying to move before Premier League clubs do
Despite the growing interest, Sporting are still viewed as the club furthest along in the race.
Doumbia has been identified internally for some time as the ideal replacement for their current midfielders. And Sporting will have the Champions League factor on their side.
O Jogo explain the Portuguese side earned nearly €80m (£68.5m) from Europe this season and are already guaranteed another major financial injection from next year’s competition.
That gives them stronger arguments in negotiations with both Venezia and the player himself.
Still, there is an obvious concern inside the Portuguese club. The longer this situation stays open, the more dangerous the Premier League becomes.
Everton may not have made their move yet, but their presence is already helping push the numbers higher.