Nottingham Forest are said to be closing in on a move to sign Douglas Luiz from Juventus.
A midfielder linked with a move to Everton looks set to complete a switch to a Premier League rival.
David Moyes has managed to strengthen his engine room in the summer transfer window with the arrival of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. He was signed from Chelsea for a fee of £25 million.
However, the Toffees boss will still feel he’s short of options in the middle of the park. Idrissa Gana Gueye and James Garner are the only other two recognised players with significant Premier League experience. Tim Iroegbunam made only five top-flight starts in his maiden campaign after joining from Aston Villa last summer.
The Brazil international earned a £44 million move to the Italian giants after recording 10 goals and 10 assists for Aston Villa in the 2023-24 season - which earned them fourth spot in the Premier League while they reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.
However, Luiz has endured a difficult 12 months at Juve. He made just three Serie A starts last term and played in one of their four matches at the Club World Cup. After the tournament, he did not report back for pre-season duty before having to apologise for his actions.
Forest have the prospect of Europa League football, which would have appealed to Luiz. Italian outlet Tuttosportsuggests he may move to the City Ground on a season-long loan with the obligation to buy for around £26 million.
Everton transfer plans
The right-hand side of defence is also an area that the Toffees would like to bolster. Jake O’Brien operated in the role superbly after Moyes’ return as manager in January. However, O’Brien’s favourite position is operating as a centre-back. Nathan Patterson has struggled throughout his time on Merseyside, having been signed from Rangers in January 2022.
Meanwhile, Seamus Coleman is not expected to play too much despite the captain signing a new one-year contract in the summer. Everton were keen on signing Kenny Tete but he opted to extend his stay at Fulham.
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