Everton have been offered the chance to sign former West Ham United midfielder Joao Mario, it has been claimed.
According to a report from Daily Mail, Inter Milan have offered Joao Mario to the Toffees for around £15m, although the likes of Porto and Monaco are also interested in attaining the services of the Portuguese international.
The 26-year-old has one goal and three assists in his 22 appearances for the Serie A club.
In his earlier stint in England, where he was on loan at West Ham United from Inter Milan, he scored two goals and assisted once in 13 Premier League appearances for the Hammers.
Should Marco Silva bring Joao Mario to Goodison Park?
Joao Mario is an all-round midfielder who has the ability to play most positions on a football pitch. In his career so far, he has played as a winger, a deeper midfielder, and an attacking midfielder.
The Portuguese International played a pivotal role for his national side, helping them lift the European Cup back in 2016.
Silva will be looking to revamp his squad in the summer after failing to qualify for European football after spending heavily last summer.
The 41-year-old has brought a different and entertaining approach to Everton ever since taking over from Sam Allardyce in 2018, but a less enthralled 8th spot finish in the Premier League isn’t helping his cause. The Portuguese manager deploys a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 formation, in general, depending upon his midfielders.
A certain addition of Mario can bring some freshness to the Everton midfield, thanks to his versatility and style of play. Mario’s main strength resides in his acceleration on the pitch, passing through the lines, set-pieces and crossing, all of which complements Silva’s style of play.
Mario’s aerial prowess can be a let down against oppositions who engage more in a direct style of play, but that’s something which comes as a package. The 26-year-old can be a serious threat to any opposition having quality players like Sigurdsson, Richarlison and Bernard in front of him.
Silva will be keen on bringing his compatriot to Goodison Park who already has some Premier League experience on his CV. A player like Mario at £15m sounds like a good idea from the Toffees’ perspective, who might lose Andre Gomes to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.
Stat Courtesy: Whoscored