Everton are in pole position to sign a £17.1m midfielder who Jurgen Klopp called ‘exciting’, according to a recent report.
The Merseysiders avoided relegation with ease last term despite an eight-point deduction, so the onus will now be on Sean Dyche to push them up the league to a mid-table finish.
Dyche will be desperate to bolster his ranks and add more quality across the field in the summer transfer window, though, finances appear to be limited.
That said, they are still in the mix to sign a very highly-rated midfielder and are now leading the race for his signature.
Everton lead race for Arthur Melo
According to Tutto Sport, Everton are leading the race to sign Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo, who enjoyed a productive loan spell at Fiorentina last season.
The Toffees are named as the most likely destination for the 27-year-old, with the Turin titans expected to sanction his sale to raise funds for the newly-appointed head coach Thiago Motta.
Juve’s technical director Cristiano Guintoli is working on Melo’s exit and is trying to find him a Premier League club.
Everton have tracked the former Liverpool midfielder and could steal a march on his signature over West Ham United.
Arthur Melo statistics
Melo’s FBref statistics make for very impressive reading.
The Brazilian midfielder, who Jurgen Klopp once called ‘exciting’, ranks in the top four per cent for pass completion per 90 compared to his positional peers across Europe, evincing how proficient he is in possession.
Further, he sits in the top 23 per cent for shot-creating actions, demonstrating his attacking creativity, too.
If Everton do land Melo’s signature, it could be a transformative signing for their midfield.