Everton transfer on the cards for Benfica ace Florentino Luis
Everton transfer on the cards for Benfica ace Florentino Luis

Everton to return for Florentino Luis transfer with auction set to begin soon

Jonathan Burnett

Jonny is a University of Leeds journalism graduate who became part of the FootballInsider team in Spring 2024, and recently worked as Head of Media for Widnes Vikings Rugby League club. Writing as a freelance reporter and commentator for The Sporting News and StatsPerform, he has covered matches in competitions including the FIFA Men's and Women's World Cups, as well as the Champions League, Women's Euro 2022, Six Nations and the Rugby Union World Cup.

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Everton are set to return to the fold in a bid to sign Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis, with an auction wanted in Portugal, according to Record.

The Portuguese newspaper has reported in its print edition (6 June, page 9) that the Toffees hold "a long-standing interest" in bringing the 24-year-old to Goodison Park.

Keeping Florentino is seen as less of a priority by the Portuguese champions than retaining the services of 19-year-old Joao Neves, with Leandro Barreiro already signed too.

Everton cannot afford to enter multi-club bidding war

It doesn't seem much of a stretch to suggest that the last thing Everton needs this summer is to be caught up in a tussle over Florentino.

The Benfica star is undoubtedly talented and would add a huge step-up in quality to Sean Dyche's midfield next season, as the Blues look to avoid another Premier League relegation battle and the points deductions which put them in one last season [beIN Sports].

But with Everton possibly needing to sell players before they can buy new this summer due to PSR rules which Don Hutchinson criticised on X, tabling a competitive bid this early in the window would be an incredibly risky move by the Toffees' transfer department [X].

A breakthrough in the prolonged takeover saga could well free up the funds needed to pursue the purchase of their long-term target, by the time this occurs - if at all - Everton could already be out of the running to bring Florentino to Goodison Park [A Bola].

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