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What Nunes might bring to Everton next season

By Matt Townsend

BRAGA, PORTUGAL - APRIL 25: Matheus Nunes of Sporting CP looks on during the Liga NOS match between SC Braga and Sporting CP at Estadio Municipal de Braga on April 25, 2021 in Braga, Portugal. Sporting stadiums around Portugal remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
BRAGA, PORTUGAL - APRIL 25: Matheus Nunes of Sporting CP looks on during the Liga NOS match between SC Braga and Sporting CP at Estadio Municipal de Braga on April 25, 2021 in Braga, Portugal. Sporting stadiums around Portugal remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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It seems possible Everton might have a new recruit soon in Brazilian midfielder Matheus Nunes, at least if the media reports are true, which is of course a big if.

Everton are reportedly close to sealing a deal for the Sporting Lisbon player and if indeed that’s the case, then what can he offer and how might he fit into the Toffees team?

Well obviously to a large extent it will depend on who is the Blues new boss and we are still waiting for that mystery to be sorted out with the latest reports indicating that a decision will finally be made early this week.

We will have to see if that’s actually the case or if we’ll still be in the dark for a while longer. But anyway whoever does finally get this job will obviously have their own tactical approach.

But in the meantime let’s look at how Nunes might fit in if he is to become an Everton player.

We’ve briefly looked at Nunes and his qualities so let’s see if those strengths and how he could best contribute to the team.

According to Whoscored.com, Nunes greatest strength is his ability to carry the ball from midfield and dribble past opponents.

He’s a player with a lot of energy who seems very willing to get up and down and work box-to-box and he gets stuck in defensively too.

All these qualities are things the Toffees need more of, in particular the ability to carry the ball forward from midfield, something the Blues have certainly lacked recently.

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Nunes can therefore play as an orthodox central midfielder or in a wide position and so he would give a new manager some options in terms of formations and tactics.

He could play alongside Everton’s other two workhorses Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure in a three man midfield providing additional support to them.

But he can also operate further forward perhaps in three-man attack in a 4-2-3-1 system behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin, that’s a formation that current front-runner for the Goodison hotseat, Rafa Benitez, has often favoured in the past.

Additionally, Nunes could also line up as a wing-back and this could help solve a problem on the right hand side of the team that has been a longstanding issue.

Well assuming this talented Brazilian does become an Everton player let’s hope he can contribute straight away and help whoever it is that is the new Toffees manager get off to a good start next season.

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