Sources: Everton jet out on transfer mission to Champions League knock-out showdown
Everton scouts jetted out to Belgium last week for Benfica’s 2-0 Champions League victory against Club Brugge, Goodison News has been told.
Benfica beat Brugge 2-0 at the Jan Breydel Stadium on 15 February with Joao Mario and David Neves scoring the goals that secured a crucial first-leg victory for the Portuguese giants.
Everton-linked midfielder Florentino Luis played all 90 minutes of the game for Benfica but it is unclear whether or not Everton’s scouts were specifically watching him, one of his teammates or one of the Brugge players.
Goodison News has been told by a recruitment source that 23-year-old Florentino has been attracting a lot of attention from Premier League clubs due to his performances in the Champions League this season with Benfica.
Florentino, who’s yet to be capped by the Portugal senior team, was instrumental in helping Benfica finish top of a Champions League group containing Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Maccabi Haifa, as well as winning two qualifying rounds against Dynamo Kyiv and FC Midtjylland.
However, no proposals or enquiries have been made for the defensive midfielder as of yet.
Portuguese newspaper Record reported via their print edition on 18 February that Everton were in pursuit of Florentino.
Goal reported on 14 February that Arsenal and Everton’s Merseyside rivals Liverpool are also interested in Florentino.
Speaking to Goal, former Benfica coach Joao Tralhao waxed lyrical about Florentino and said that he has the ability to play for some of Europe’s top clubs.
“He is the kind of player every coach would like to have in their squad,” said Tralhao. “He’s an amazing boy, a hard worker, calm, professional, always prepared to listen and he is a proper team player. He doesn’t think only of himself.
“Technically speaking, it’s not easy to find a midfielder with the defensive qualities he has. I used to joke with him and say that he saw the game two seconds before everyone else. It’s amazing the [number] of interceptions he makes, the way he can be in the right position all the time. He is always in the right space to regain the ball and he has improved so much in terms of duels, using his body, protecting the ball in contact and so on.”
He added: “He can play anywhere, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, anywhere. He would have no problem adapting.”