Despite what they were promised ahead of the summer transfer window, this has been one of revolution for Everton rather than regression.
Kevin Thelwell aimed to lower expectations, suggesting that despite potential for high sales, the actual incoming funds might be limited, which could leave Sean Dyche’s team lacking in resources.
Instead, the squad has never seemed so robust, with a strong depth across various positions, and there’s hope for further additions before the summer ends.
One transfer saga that has been ongoing since before the window opened centers on a prominent midfielder, and according to recent reports, a significant breakthrough has finally been achieved.
Everton open talks to sign Arthur Melo
Everton’ s inerest in Melo is one which was first noted back in May, but remains to this day.
After all, by all accounts, the Brazilian has no future at Juventus, and therefore could be snagged at a cut price by the Toffees.
The latest update on this matter comes from the Italian source TuttoSport, which reports: “Regarding Arthur: [There are] ongoing discussions with a few English clubs (Everton and Leicester) to assess the possibility of a return to the Premier League.”
Arthur Melo’s price tag has been discussed for a while, but it appears that the Turin-based team recently agreed on a £12.5 million fee.
Everton’s main obstacle seems to be his £103,000-a-week salary, which presents a significant challenge for them. They might be hesitant to commit to such a large contract without any assurance of his performance.
Although the 27-year-old had a tough time with injuries during his stint at Liverpool, he has recently excelled while on loan at Fiorentina.
Although his once-promising career hasn’t achieved the level of success initially expected, it has still been quite impressive.
Moving directly from Brazil to Barcelona placed immense pressure on him, but he managed to handle it well.
He even remembered Lionel Messi’s reaction to his transfer, recalling: ‘[Lionel] Messi said I was the most surprising signing of 2018.’
‘I thought he was joking. I had just arrived at Barça. It was a very meaningful moment for me. Later, I thanked him personally in the locker room.’
Such qualities don’t just disappear, and it appears that Arthur’s career may have suffered due to the questionable transfer strategies of Barcelona and Juventus.
After reigniting his form with Fiorentina, he is not just another 27-year-old past his prime looking for a final payday.
Instead, he is a motivated player eager to demonstrate his abilities after facing several challenging years, most of which were beyond his control.
If the financial terms are favorable, Everton might offer him the opportunity to regain the exceptional potential that once excited many across Europe.
