Everton could now sign 28-year-old midfielder Xeka who is available as a free agent.
The Portuguese player’s contract at LOSC Lille expired in 2022 and having spent last season at Renness, the former Braga man is yet to find a new club.
However, Xeka is attracting interest from across the Premier League, with Everton, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United and Wolves among those interested.
Championship sides Southampton and West Bromwich Albion have also approached the free agent with a view to giving him a contract.
That is according to TEAMtalk, who report that there is also interest in the midfielder from sides in Spain, Italy and Tukiye, as well as clubs in France.
Xeka could be a cost effective addition to Sean Dyche’s squad
The 28-year-old won the French Ligue 1 with LOSC Lille in the 2020/21 campaign, making 33 appearances during the unexpected triumph.
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Indeed, Xeka appeared 144 times for the French outfit during his six-year stay at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, before spending last season at fellow Ligue 1 side Rennes.
However, the Portuguese midfielder’s spell at Rennes did not go according to plan, picking up an ankle injury which required surgery earlier this year.
Indeed, the 28-year-old made just 8 league appearances during his time at Rennes, though will now no doubt be looking to rebuild his stalled career elsewhere.
Everton have options in the middle of the park with the likes of Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucoure, not to mention James Garner who has recently been deployed as a winger.
However, the Blues now look set to allow Xeka’s countryman Andre Gomes to move on, with Turkish side Fenerbahçe looking to agree a deal for the 30-year-old before their transfer window shuts tomorrow.
Indeed, it seems Everton may want to offload Gomes and recruit a cost-effective alternative who will be earning a fraction of the salary.