Everton are already looking towards the 2020/21 season.
They have enjoyed a major improvement under the management of Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison Park.
The former Chelsea boss was appointed in December and, since then, he has managed a total of 14 Premier League games.
The Merseyside club have lost just three times in that run – to Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea – and even took a point off champions Liverpool in their first game following the league’s suspension due to COVID-19.
However, Ancelotti is already looking to the future as he bids to improve his squad.
Indeed, it appears that a Serie A midfielder could well be on his way to the club if negotiations go smoothly.
The Toffees are said to have made a bid for a 29-year-old, though they have yet to meet his asking price.
That’s per reports from the Italian media, via Sport Witness, who state that Allan is wanted by Ancelotti in the upcoming transfer window.
They are said to have tabled a bid of €30 million (£27m) for the midfielder but Napoli are keen to receive at least €40m (£36m).
A deal, though, could be found at around €36m (£32.4m), so there is only a slight increase needed from Ancelotti’s men.
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
Sport Witness reports that Napoli wanted €100m (£90.1m) for Allan when PSG came knocking last summer.
That asking price has clearly dropped but there is a reason the Brazilian was rated so highly by the Serie A club.
The eight-cap Brazil international is, by trade, a defensive midfielder.
But he is also excellent at carrying the ball and in progressing the ball vertically.
Per WhoScored, he averages 2.7 tackles per game in the league, along with 1.6 fouls, and 0.8 interceptions; he knows exactly how to break up a game and is a master of the tactical foul.
He also averages 0.8 key passes per game along with one dribble, while he is fouled 1.4 times per game; this is a player that can win the ball back and then use it brilliantly well, as evidenced by his 87.5% passing accuracy.
He would come in and glue together Everton’s midfield, allowing the likes of Tom Davies, Andre Gomes, and Gylfi Sigurdsson to focus on affecting the game in the final third.
With a small increase in their bid needed, this is a deal that Everton really need to do.