European giants eyeing replacement for ‘world class’ player who Everton are in talks to sign

Add as preferred source on Google

Everton have made two signings so far this summer transfer window.

Carlos Alcaraz joined Everton on a permanent deal earlier in the window and now Thierno Barry has completed a transfer to Finch Farm.

Barry won’t make his debut against Accrington Stanley next week as he’s still on an extended holiday due to his commitments with France under-21s at the European Championships.

The 22-year-old will likely join up with David Moyes’ men at the end of the month when they jet out to the United States of America.

Moyes is looking to make his third addition of the window, and now a European club are looking to sign a replacement for one of Everton’s targets, which is pretty telling.

• READ MORE: After Thierno Barry, Everton now ‘pressing’ ahead to sign 13-goal Championship striker

Juventus looking to sign replacement for Everton target Douglas Luiz

Everton are in the market for a central midfielder following the departures of Orel Mangala and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Moyes has opened talks to sign Douglas Luiz from Juventus, who would be considered a serious coup given his impressive performances for Aston Villa over the years.

West Ham United are also interested in Luiz, and they’re believed to be leading the race to sign him at this stage.

According to Marco Giordano, Juve are eyeing Wolves midfielder Andre as a replacement for the Brazil international.

So, it’s pretty evident the Italian outfit are ready to sanction his sale, it’s just down to Everton beating West Ham to his signature.

Douglas Luiz considered ‘world class’

According to The Athletic, Luiz’s former teammate John McGinn believed he was a ‘world class’ footballer.

His FBref data certainly amplifies that point, as he ranks in the top five per cent in Europe for successful take-ons per 90 compared to his positional peers, evincing his exceptional dribbling ability.

Further, the 27-year-old sits in the top seven per cent for shot-creating actions, showing what a brilliant deep-lying playmaker he is.

Everton fans are desperate to sign Luiz as they believe it’d be a real statement of intent and they’d finally have a top class right-footed set-piece taker.