Everton may launch Florentino Luis transfer attack in hours, Benfica officials face dilemma
Benfica officials may be left with a dilemma in the coming hours, with Everton keen on a late January attack to sign 24-year-old midfielder Florentino Luis, according to O Jogo.
The Portuguese newspaper shared via their print edition on 30 January that Everton see Florentino as a strong possibility to provide balance to a team they feel has a gap in the core.
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.
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.
It is also said in the O Jogo report that Benfica boss Roger Schmidt has said internally that he is counting on the player for the rest of the season, making this an even more difficult deal for Everton to pull off.
One boost in the middle of the park, albeit more short-term, will be the return of Idrissa Gueye, whose Senegal side lost at the Africa Cup of Nations on 29 January, meaning he is set to return to Goodison Park and hopefully strengthen their midfield options.
In other Everton news, the club have told two players they can leave Goodison Park.
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