Report – Everton set to finalise £30m summer swoop for Brazilian talent
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti will make Brazilian defender Gabriel his first signing of the summer, according to the Mirror.
The national outlet states that the Italian has identified the 22-year-old as the ideal centre-back option for the Toffees, and believes he can rebuild his defence around the player.
It is understood that a fee of £30 million will be enough to secure a deal for the South American, who currently plies his trade for Lille.
The South American has Champions League experience and is seen as a player who can help the Toffees push for European competition next season.
The article does suggest, however, that Gabriel’s arrival could lead to another of Ancelotti’s current options leaving the club at the end of the season.
Will Gabriel be a good signing for the Toffees?
There’s certainly a lot to be excited about here, that’s for sure.
The Brazilian looks like a really good prospect, and he already has decent experience of playing at a high level.
So far this season he has averaged a pass completion rate in excess of 86%, as well as winning 71.1% of his defensive duels, as per Wyscout.
As a point of reference, Yerry Mina has won 68.3% of his defensive duels.
£30 million seems like a fair fee in a hype-inflated market, and you can fully imagine that Ancelotti is the kind of manager who will not fork out any kind of sizeable figure unless he is absolutely sure that he is getting good value for money.
In other Everton news, Report – Toffees player reaches ‘end of the line’ after ill-fated loan move.