After signing Hackney, Everton now risk letting a glorious transfer chance pass them by

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Everton are still in the market for midfielders after the recent signing of Hayden Hackney, but time is rapidly running out to sign Arthur Atta.

Everton delighted fans last week after a move was completed for Hackney, who was the standout player in the Championship last term.

The club paid £16.5 million initially, and the deal could eventually rise to £25 million.

But with several players being linked with exits, it is expected that another midfielder will be coming in. The likes of Tim Iroegbunam and Charly Alcaraz could both yet leave, and the lack of communication over Idrissa Gana Gueye suggests he may also be off.

Arthur Atta is a player Everton have reportedly been watching lately.

But the club are now facing the prospect of missing out following a fresh update this morning.

Everton surely need to try and hijack Fiorentina’s move for Arthur Atta

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Fiorentina are now closing in Everton target Arthur Atta.

Supposedly, an agreement worth around £34 million has been reached.

The operation is being headed by sporting director Fabio Paratici, who has long admired the player and actually wanted to take him to Tottenham Hotspur when he was there.

Di Marzio suggests that this is something of a surprise move, after there have been English and other Italian suitors for Atta.

And it has to be said, Everton could be missing out on a big opportunity here.

Atta made waves last season playing for Udinese, and is seen as a midfielder with some very desirable traits.

At 6ft 3in, he is physically imposing, and has the ability to glide across the pitch and break the lines by carrying the ball, which is not all that common in midfielders of his build.

Mobility has been a bit of an issue in the Everton midfield in recent times, and it has been clear that Idrissa Gueye has been on the wane.

Atta – who has also been tracked by Aston Villa – also provides a threat in the final third. He scored six goals and made four assists for Udinese across all competitions last term, and having someone to chip in those kinds of numbers would be ideal for Everton.

Fiorentina look to be close to signing him.

But as we know in football, nothing is ever done until it’s done.

It would be in Everton’s interests to look at maybe trying to hijack this move, to land a unique midfielder who really could add so much.

But of course, it could be tricky because any move may hinge on exits happening first.

Everton need to definitively know that a couple of players out of Iroegbunam, Gueye, Alcaraz and Armstrong are leaving before they do it.