Everton and Napoli agree Allan fee
The Daily Express claim that Everton have reached an agreement on a fee with Napoli and that the transfer of the Brazil midfielder is almost complete.
I feel a little reluctant to be writing yet again about this story, which has been just about as protracted and drawn out a transfer as any I can remember Everton being involved in, but there appears to be some evidence that genuine progress is finally being made.
The player had apparently agreed personal terms quite a while back, but the transfer was being held up as the two clubs were still a considerable way apart in terms of the fee to be paid. The Toffees were offering around £25 million with the Italian club wanting closer to £40 million.
Well now it seems, if the Express are right, Everton have tabled a new £31 million bid, which hopefully will finally be enough to get this transfer sorted out at last.
It feels critical to me that the Blues get a new recruit through the door as soon as possible with time ticking on and if that new arrival is Allan then it’s a good start.
Is the Brazilian the answer to all our prayers? No obviously not, but he is a quality player, very experienced and should significantly improve the Toffees engine room.
If Carlo Ancelotti can get the best out of him, then Everton will have a fine player who can provide much of the energy and defensive coverage that has been sorely missing from the Blues midfield ever since Idrissa Gueye left last summer.
Now if this deal is nearly over the line, the club can turn their attention to other targets. As well as another midfielder, widely believed to be Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucoure, Everton have been linked with several right-sided players and possibly another striker too.
After Doucoure, if he is the one that Ancelotti does want, then I think the next priority must be to bring in players who can offer some improved creativity.
It’s very important the Toffees have more attacking quality and flair next season. The team’s inability to create enough chances has been a problem for a long time and is starving the Blues forwards of the opportunities they need to score goals.
More from Prince Rupert's Tower
- Everton 0 Arsenal 1: Blues fall to third home defeat
- Further chaos in Everton takeover as other lenders not keen on 777 Partners
- Everton need repeat of Arsenal win to kick-start their season on Sunday
- More madness at Everton as Moshiri now agrees to sell club to 777 Partners
- Everton takeover talk cools after UK govt doubts and further questions
Whether that means bringing in a right-back/wing-back type like Alesandro Florenzi or a wide attacker such as Leon Bailey or Wilfried Zaha, isn’t fundamentally important.
There are a number of options in these areas, such as those mentioned above, many of whom have been extensively linked with Everton this summer.
The one rumour that has been circulating most recently is that the Blues are also talking to Napoli about a loan deal for Hirving Lozano.
Lozano has struggled since his move from Holland and like Allan, seems to have fallen out of favour with Napoli boss Genaro Gattuso when he succeeded Ancelotti as manager of the Serie A club.
Marcel Brands also knows Lozano as he was PSG Sporting Director when the Mexican arrived at the Dutch club. However, a deal for Lozano still seems a stretch, Everton are more likely to bring in someone like Florenzi I think, but we will see.