Everton have made formal enquiries over a deal to sign Douglas Luiz from Juventus, according to Italian outlet Calciomercato.it.
The Toffees endured a frustrating end to last season after a promising start saw them lose just two of their opening seven Premier League matches.
Impressive victories over Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace raised hopes of a strong campaign, but those expectations gradually faded as form collapsed.
Seven consecutive Premier League matches without a win condemned David Moyes’ side to a 13th-place finish, well short of their initial ambitions.
A lack of quality and depth across the squad was widely considered the most significant factor behind their disappointing second-half-of-season decline.
As a result, central midfield has emerged as one of Everton’s primary recruitment priorities heading into the summer transfer window.
The club has already been linked with Benfica’s Richard Rios, Villarreal’s Pape Gueye, and Parma’s Mandela Keita as part of their midfield overhaul.
Douglas Luiz is the latest name to enter the picture, with Calciomercato.it reporting that Everton have made enquiries about signing the 28-year-old Brazilian this summer.
Juventus boss Luciano Spalletti is said to want to keep the midfielder, but the Serie A club remains open to offers given the uncertainty surrounding Luiz’s future.
His Transfermarkt valuation stands at around £15 million, and Everton are expected to face significant competition, with Premier League rivals Bournemouth also reportedly interested in the player.
Luiz would bring a balanced mix of defensive resilience and technical quality to Moyes’ midfield, capable of winning the ball aggressively and also orchestrating play from deep.
His composure in possession and physical presence could help address the shortcomings that repeatedly prevented Everton from controlling games throughout last season.
The Brazilian international is also capable of performing a box-to-box role, offering an additional offensive threat by arriving late into the penalty area.
His arrival would represent an upgrade on both Tim Iroegbunam and Carlos Alcaraz, and could help form a competitive midfield unit alongside Hayden Hackney and James Garner.
Moyes continues to reshape his squad this summer, and securing a player of Luiz’s experience and quality could prove a significant step forward in Everton’s rebuild.