With the January transfer window closing in just a few days, business for Everton has been infuriatingly nonexistent.
Despite clear needs to improve the squad, especially at right back, the Everton brass have yet to make a move, although reports have suggested that loans are the club's preferred option for additions in the window. That would mean any move would not be made until near the end.
But a recent rumor coming out of ESPN Brazil indicates that the Toffees might be looking to boost their attacking ranks through a somewhat unusual source.
Bruno Andrade is reporting that Everton are interested in Wesley, a young forward currently playing at Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Wesley will turn 21 in a few weeks, and even after "flirting" with his old club, Corinthians, via social media, the expectation is that he won't return to Brazil.
Instead, Andrade reports that the "winger is in advanced negotiations with Everton of England and is expected to join the Premier League team during this transfer window." He was initially set to move to Benfica, but after that deal fell through, Andrade says that Everton are "in pole position" to earn his signature.
Wesley does not have a lot of top-flight experience. He's played just 82 matches (40 starts) in roughly 4-and-a-half seasons, with his highest output coming in 2024 with Corinthians, where he played just under 2000 minutes in 30 matches (22 starts). He scored 3 goals, adding one assist that season.
Since joining Al-Nassr, he's logged just 801 minutes since 2024/25, scoring once and adding two assists.
But he has shown versatility has a player, logging minutes across the forward line, although he has played mostly centrally with Corinthians, but moved into a full-time winger since moving to Saudi.
The question is whether this makes sense for Everton, even if the fee doesn't figure to be terribly extravagant.
With Jack Grealish set to miss an extended period, that leaves a spot open for someone to step into the starting lineup. Neither Dwight McNeil nor Tyler Dibling has managed to grab hold of the opportunity when it's been given.
In that regard, further competition on the wings would be valuable, especially if the club sees an exit for McNeil in the near future.
Wesley wouldn't need to step into the lineup right away, but he seems to be a talented kid who is on the radar of plenty of clubs, so if Everton could find a way to get him in, it might be a coup for the club.
It isn't the move that is the most needed, but Grealish's absence may have fueled the club to look at players in positions they didn't anticipate.
With just days to go, something needs to happen, and maybe this could be the catalyst to start to get things moving.