If Everton’s pursuit of Gabriel Magalhães has taught us anything, it’s that Carlo Ancelotti really wants a centre-back this summer at Goodison Park.
Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and Mason Holgate clearly haven’t shown the Italian he can rely on them consistently throughout next season, and some extra depth and competition is needed.
It appears the Brazilian is the number one target these days, but Everton have also been linked with other players, such as Beijing Sinobo Guoan’s Kim Min-Jae.
The 23-year-old has impressed scouts around Europe (with some comparing him to Virgil Van Dijk), including those at Goodison Park.
The last reports we saw in the English media came around mid-June, but the Toffees haven’t left, at least not according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Italian newspaper look at Lazio’s interest in the player, and while Tottenham appear to be their biggest competition, there’s a lot of other clubs sniffing.
They name RB Leipzig, Everton and PSV Eindhoven, also adding that the Eredivisie side have ‘presented an offer of €15m’.
There’s not indication whether or not that has been accepted, and we’ll have to see, but it shows where Marcel Brands might have to start if he turns his attention fully on the South Korea international if a deal for Lille’s Brazilian falls through.
