On January 30, the Portuguese publication revealed through print that Everton views Florentino as a great chance to add balance to a team that they believe is lacking in the core.

This story follows that of Fabricio Romano [29 January], who claimed that Benfica would not be willing to allow their player to go on loan and that they would consider the deal to be unfeasible in the last few days of the window.

Find a way to get it done

Despite Benfica’s apparent reluctance to see Florentino leave the club at the halfway stage of the season, it seems unlikely Everton would be pushing for this deal if they had no chance of getting it done. By that logic, they must keep pushing until, one way or another, the talks conclude.

If it becomes clear that there is no way this deal gets done before the deadline on 1 February, Sean Dyche’s side will have to move on to other targets, and quickly, if they want to strengthen their midfield.

This report has come after Fabrizio Romano [29 January] reported that Benfica would not be prepared to let their player leave on loan and see the deal as impossible in the final days of the window.

Discover a method to finish it.

It seems unlikely that Everton would be pushing for this deal if they had no prospect of closing it, despite Benfica’s seeming unwillingness to see Florentino depart the team halfway through the season. That means they have to keep pressing until the talks end, in one way or another.

Sean Dyche’s team will need to move on to other targets fast if they want to bolster their midfield if it appears like this transaction cannot be completed in time for the deadline of February 1.

This is an even more challenging arrangement for Everton to pull off, as the O Jogo article also claims that Benfica manager Roger Schmidt has stated internally that he is banking on the player for the remainder of the season.

Idrissa Gueye’s return to Goodison Park will provide a short-term boost for the middle of the park. Senegal’s team lost at the Africa Cup of Nations on January 29, thus Gueye’s arrival will hopefully improve their midfield options.

In other Everton news, two players have been instructed to leave Goodison Park by the team.

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