Everton agreed to an initial loan transfer with Flamengo for midfielder Carlos Alcaraz in a late deadline day move but there are also some winners and losers at Goodison Park.
The Toffees targeted the Argentine’s transfer in a last-gasp attempt to gift boss David Moyes a stronger squad. Alcaraz already has some Premier League experience under his belt after a spell for Southampton. He only left the Saints to head to Flamengo for £16m in August 2024.
Now, he is back in the Premier League as Everton signed Alcaraz on loan from Flamengo in a deadline day deal this Monday. The Toffees’ deal also boasts an obligation to buy Alcaraz for an initial £12.5m plus add-ons, which becomes active if he starts in a high number of games.
Everton sign Carlos Alcaraz on loan from Flamengo with £16.5m obligation to buy fee
Everton’s obligation to buy Alcaraz could reach £16.5m if he impresses across the remainder of the season as Moyes pushes to keep the Toffees in the Premier League. Flamengo agreed to let the La Plata native move on loan after giving three goals and three assists in 19 games.
Alcaraz spent the first 12 of his 18 months as a Southampton player at St Mary’s after joining the south coast side from Racing Club in January 2023. The 22-year-old played 18 Premier League games for four goals and two assists but could not prevent their relegation that term.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Carlos Alcaraz from salary to injury record
Southampton initially kept Alcaraz for their drop into the Championship and saw him record three goals and assist one through 23 second-tier games. A loan move to Juventus followed, with Alcaraz offering one assist in 12 outings, before then signing for Flamengo last summer.
Now, Alcaraz will strive to establish himself firmly as a Premier League player at Everton. But there are also some winners and losers amongst the stars already at Goodison Park who will now benefit from the Argentine’s arrival and will lose out thanks to Everton signing Alcaraz…
Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin lead the winners from Everton signing Carlos Alcaraz
Everton signing Alcaraz on loan from Flamengo will see some Blues players lose out yet their strikers in Beto and the injury-hit duo of Dominic Calvert-Lewin plus Armando Broja will feel they have won with the midfielder’s arrival. Alcaraz will add a bit more creativity to their XI.
Alcaraz penned four goals plus two assists in his 18 Premier League appearances in 2022/23 after joining Southampton in January 2023, and making the midfielder’s debut at Everton in a 2-1 win. Beto and Calvert-Lewin after his hamstring injury will look forward to that service.
Only Iliman Ndiaye with six goals in 23 games has scored more for the Blues so far this term. Beto and Calvert-Lewin both boast three top-flight goals during their 15 and 22 games. Only Dwight McNeil (3), Abdoulaye Doucoure and Orel Mangala (1) also have goals from midfield.
Ashley Young (3 in 20), McNeil (3 in 13) and Idrissa Gana Gueye (2) also lead the way so far this term at Goodison Park for assists. Even goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with an assist ranks above Jack Harrison (in 19 games), Beto, Ndiaye, Doucoure (21) and Jesper Lindstrom (19).
Carlos Alcaraz could help David Moyes unlock Jesper Lindstrom’s potential at Everton
Having Alcaraz in the centre of the pitch could also help Moyes unlock Lindstrom’s potential after a largely underwhelming loan spell from SSC Napoli so far this season. The 24-year-old is still yet to offer a goal or assist through the Dane’s 19 Premier League outings, starting 10.
Alcaraz could be Moyes’ key to unlock Lindstrom as the midfielder showed at Southampton that he is comfortable and successful with carrying the ball. So far this season, Everton have relied on Ndiaye or McNeil to carry possession up the pitch and beat opponents on the ball.
James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam and Orel Mangala lose out as Everton sign Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz’s arrival on loan at Goodison Park from Flamengo for the rest of this season does see some Everton players lose out, however. His temporary transfer particularly presents trouble for James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam – whilst even putting Orel Mangala at least on notice.
Mangala has been a regular part of the Blues’ engine room since the 26-year-old himself put pen to a loan transfer from Lyon to Everton last August. But after starting 14 of his 19 games in the Premier League to date this season, Mangala sustained a serious knee ligament injury.
Alcaraz may now leave Mangala without a gap in Moyes’ XI if he impresses at Everton, while also forcing Garner and Iroegbunam out of the squad. Despite their recent returns to action, the pair face competition from a player who is very comfortable in ground and aerial duels.
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