Photo by Ferda Demir/Getty Images
Photo by Ferda Demir/Getty Images
Everton were left with a very small squad following the 2026 summer transfer window, but seemingly the club already have eyes on strengthening in January.
The Toffees have just 18 outfield first-team players at the moment, and are hoping to get through to January without too much struggle. So far, the season has gone quite well, with Everton unbeaten after five games.
David Moyes and the players appear to be welcoming the adversity, using it as fuel. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall even admitted a few weeks ago that he’d become annoyed by the takes suggesting Everton’s squad didn’t have the quality to compete.
But realistically, Everton’s squad will need a boost in the next window.
And Gabriel Sara is a player on the Toffees’ radar.
Everton ready to hold January meeting with Galatasaray over Gabriel Sara
A Spor have today shared the print edition of Takvim, which shows a report about Everton holding an interest in Brazilian midfielder Sara.
Apparently, Newcastle United have been showing interest in the 27-year-old. But Everton are also there, and the suggestion is that the club want to hold a meeting with Galatasaray in January over the player.
Sara has been with Gala now since 2024, after he transferred from Norwich City.
Earlier this year he got his first cap for Brazil as a reward for his good performances over in Turkey.
Sara has established himself as a key player for Gala, but seemingly there could be a chance he moves on in the next window and Everton might be positioning themselves for a transfer.
It is actually not the first time Everton have been linked with Sara. Interest has been reported a few times this year, and there may be no smoke without fire.
Do Everton even need Sara? One exit may need to happen
It is peculiar that such a report has emerged, because at the moment Everton have good options in midfield.
Sara – described previously as ‘technically astute’ by Breaking The Lines – can play as a box-to-box midfielder or a number 10 and at the moment, there are the likes of Hayden Hackney, Harrison Armstrong, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Merlin Rohl and Charly Alcaraz for those positions.
So on the face of it, Everton are not overly desperate.
Gabriel Sara for Galatasaray (2024-present)
Appearances – 94
Goals – 10
Assists – 17
But he seems to be a player they’ve admired for a while, and perhaps the club don’t want to risk missing out. There is also the notion that Alcaraz hasn’t had much game time in 2026 for Everton, and ahead of the summer he was being linked with an exit.
In January, Everton need to be focusing on adding depth to the striker and full-back positions first and foremost. After those things have been sorted, perhaps then there could be scope for Sara to come in.