Everton target Juventus star but refuse to match hefty price tag | OneFootball

Everton Eye Late Move for Juventus Midfielder in Calculated Gamble

Patience preferred over panic

Everton, in a summer defined by prudence rather than panic, are reportedly preparing a late move for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz. According to GiveMeSport, the club are choosing to bide their time rather than meet the Italian side’s £39 million valuation. The Merseyside club, having recently secured Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich and Thierno Barry from Villarreal, are clearly shaping a squad with longer-term sustainability in mind. But Luiz represents a different tier of ambition.

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Described by former Aston Villa teammate John McGinn as “world-class”, Luiz is seen by Everton’s recruitment department as a potential coup. The issue is not interest, but cost. With four years left on his contract and wages that exceed £150,000 per week including bonuses, the Brazilian is a heavyweight target in a club operating with lightweight resources.

Loan route offers a lifeline

Everton’s plan, then, is a simple one. Wait. Allow the market to breathe. And if Luiz has not been picked up by another suitor as the season draws near, attempt a loan deal. It is not so much a strategy as it is an invitation to chance. There is logic to the timing, but logic alone doesn’t outbid rivals.

Sources confirm that the club have already tabled a loan enquiry. Whether Juventus entertain such a move will depend on their own incoming business, but Everton’s interest is sincere, if not yet actionable.

Midfield remains a priority

Manager David Moyes is adamant about strengthening his midfield before the window closes. Despite significant investment in Barry and Aznou, there remains a gap in midfield quality, particularly in creativity and control. Luiz, with his Premier League pedigree and international experience, fits the brief.

But as with many clubs operating outside the Champions League bubble, Everton must hope that timing and circumstance work in their favour. It is not the boldest approach, but it reflects the reality of a squad being reshaped in increments rather than with instant statements.

Wages and competition could complicate deal

While Everton are focused on getting the numbers right, they are also navigating a market where clubs with greater financial power could enter the frame at any moment. Luiz’s contract, valued generously by Juventus, is another obstacle. If wages remain a sticking point, Everton may have to pivot quickly.

For now, though, the Toffees are watching and waiting, hoping that the final weeks of August offer a window of opportunity.

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Douglas Luiz is not just another body in midfield. He is Premier League-proven, technically polished and tactically versatile. The prospect of him arriving at Everton, even on loan, brings a whiff of quality the midfield has sorely missed.

But there is, naturally, that familiar dose of scepticism. Everton playing the waiting game rarely ends well. While the logic is sound, waiting for a player of Luiz’s calibre to go untouched by other suitors feels optimistic at best. If someone like West Ham or even a lower-end Champions League club comes knocking with the cash, the Toffees are out of the race before it starts.

The wage package is another glaring issue. If Juventus are unwilling to subsidise the salary, and if Everton are unwilling or unable to push the boat out, what’s the endgame here? Still, you can see why fans are intrigued. This is a player who could transform the side’s midfield tempo.

It is a gamble, but after years of erratic recruitment, it is at least a calculated one.