With the departure of midfielder Amadou Onana to Aston Villa earlier this window, Everton has been on the lookout for a new midfielder to fill the gap ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
Onana, a key first-team member under Sean Dyche last season, made 30 appearances for the Toffees as they narrowly avoided relegation despite an eight-point deduction for breaching the league’s PSR rules.
With the transfer window closing in less than two weeks, the club must work diligently to sign a replacement for Onana, especially after missing out on a deal for Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips.
The one-time England international recently completed a season-long loan to newly promoted Ipswich Town, dashing Dyche’s hopes of securing the midfielder after expressing interest in the 28-year-old.
Consequently, Everton might revive interest in another player who, like Phillips, has been linked with a move to Goodison Park this summer.
Everton could land £105k-p/w sensation
After missing out on Phillips, Everton could reignite interest in Juventus’ Arthur Melo before the transfer deadline.
The Brazilian has been told he’s free to leave the Serie A side following Thiago Motta’s appointment, with Dyche’s side competing with Newcastle United for his signature.
Arthur, who reportedly earns £105k-per-week, enjoyed a successful loan spell at Fiorentina last season, featuring in 33 league games and contributing five goals, helping to rejuvenate his career.
The former Liverpool loanee would be a valuable addition to Dyche’s squad, mitigating the disappointment of missing out on Phillips after the club’s long-standing interest in the Englishman.
Why Arthur could allow Everton fans to forget about Phillips
Phillips struggled to make an impact under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City following his £45m move in the summer of 2022.
He was sent on loan to West Ham United for the latter part of last season, where he endured another challenging spell.
He made only ten appearances for the Hammers, marred by a mistake on his debut against Bournemouth and a red card against Nottingham Forest.
Despite his difficulties in London, Everton attempted to sign Phillips but failed. Arthur, however, appears to be a better option based on their stats from the 2023/24 season.
Described as “outstanding” by former teammate Jordan Henderson, Arthur completed 92% of his passes last season compared to Phillips’ 83%, demonstrating his superior ball retention and distribution skills.
Arthur also excelled in dribbling, achieving a 73% completion rate compared to Phillips’ 25%.
Moreover, Arthur was just as impressive defensively, winning 3% more of his tackles, making him an excellent box-to-box option for Dyche’s side if he moves to Merseyside.
It’s crucial for the club to sign a new midfielder before the window closes to give Dyche the best chance of achieving a mid-table finish after several close calls with relegation.
The club’s hierarchy has invested wisely this summer, bringing in five new first-team players.
However, to complete their transfer business, it’s essential to sign a player like Arthur who can add quality to the midfield.
Although missing out on Phillips was disappointing, Arthur has proven he would be a better addition, elevating Everton’s midfield for the 2024/25 season.
