Everton has already made several wise moves in the transfer market in an effort to avoid another Premier League relegation struggle in 2024–2025—despite the club’s recent PSR issues.
In an effort to improve its PSR standing, Sean Dyche’s team has already signed midfielder Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa. Lewis Dobbin is leaving the opposite way.
The Toffees are also edging closer to finalising a deal to sign Marseille forward Iliman Ndiaye, which could end the club’s awful goalscoring record that only saw them bag 40 times in their 38 outings last season. However, despite the recent deals, the club are still targeting reinforcements to bolster Dyche’s squad, with the club targeting one talent despite his previous unsuccessful stint in England’s top-flight.
Everton interested in signing former Liverpool flop
According to Gazzetta dello Sport via Sport Witness, Everton have made contact over signing Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo, who’s free to leave the Italian giants this summer.
The Brazilian attempted to revive his career after his unsuccessful £72 million deal to the club back in 2020 by spending the previous season on loan at Fiorentina, another Italian team.
Earlier, he had a horrible loan experience at rival Liverpool on Merseyside, playing just 13 minutes of meaningful action during a tenure beset by several injury setbacks.
His stint with the Europa Conference League winners last season, though, helped him get back on track. He made 33 appearances, a campaign that attracted Dyche’s attention as well as that of the Everton administration.
Why Arthur Melo would be perfect for Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has struggled to find the net over the last 12 months, despite registering a tally of seven goals in the Premier League during the 2023/24 campaign. The 27-year-old had an xG of 12.9 last season, meaning he missed out on nearly six goals in the league based on the opportunities he missed in front of goal for Dyche’s side – part of the reason for the club’s dismal goalscoring record.
But Arthur’s possible arrival at Goodison Park would be ideal for the striker, as the former Barcelona star has put up a number of outstanding figures that might be quite helpful for Everton’s number nine.
The Brazilian proved why Juventus paid a hefty sum to recruit him only a few years back when he excelled in possession during the previous season’s Serie A.
In his 33 Serie A games, he averaged 68 passes per 90, finishing 91% of them; this puts him in the top 1% of all players in Italy’s top division for the past 12 months.
| Arthur Melo’s stats per 90 in Serie A (2023/24) | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | Tally |
| Games | 33 |
| Passes | 68 |
| Pass completion rate | 91% |
| Progressive passes | 6 |
| Tackles | 2 |
| Shot-creating actions | 3.3 |
| Stats via FBref | |
In addition, Arthur averaged six progressive passes per game. Calvert-Lewin, for example, was able to create opportunities for Dyche’s attackers by playing the ball into attacking areas and orchestrating 3.3 shot-creating actions per 90, earning him the nickname “outstanding” midfielder from former teammate Jordan Henderson.
Arthur has demonstrated over the past year that he can still succeed in Europe’s best divisions, despite his past inability to make an effect in the Premier League. His abilities will surely help the Toffees.
The club have very tenacious ball-winning players such as Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana, but the Brazilian’s talents could provide Dyche with a different option in the middle of the park and one that could complete his midfield.
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