In a recent print edition, A Bola has mentioned that Everton have agreed on an €18m move for Sporting CP midfielder Matheus Nunes this summer. It is believed that the Toffees have agreed to pay €18m plus €2m in bonuses to secure the services of the Brazilian midfield ace in this off-season (transcripted and translated by Sport Witness).
Nunes’ Recent Form In Portuguese Football
Nunes experienced an impressive campaign in Portuguese football after establishing himself as a key member of Sporting’s midfield. The 22-year-old was involved in 39 matches for the Portuguese club last season, finding the back of the net on three occasions and securing three assists in multiple competitions.
The Brazilian sensation caught the eye at times but struggled to be consistent in terms of his overall productivity in midfield as he averaged 0.6 tackles, 0.5 shots and 1.2 dribbles per 90 minutes in the previous Liga NOS campaign. He was even careful when distributing possession to his teammates based on his pass completion rate of 84.5% in league football (stats via whoscored).
Nunes has taken great strides towards improving himself over the past ten months and deserves a lot of plaudits for serving as an influential member behind Sporting’s title win in the Portuguese top-flight last season.
What Will Nunes Bring To Goodison Park?
Nunes is a deceptively quick midfielder who can make some encouraging sprints in the opponent’s half. He can keep possession ticking at the centre of the park and can create some inviting chances for others around him. The Brazilian talent can even contribute by netting the odd goal every now and then. Nunes is primarily a box-to-box midfielder but can also play a more restricted or advanced role in central midfield. However, he needs to be more decisive in the attacking end of the pitch if he intends to improve his productivity in the coming seasons.
Nunes has what it takes to become a regular starter at Goodison Park and will undoubtedly bring a lot of quality to the Toffees’ midfield department. At 22, he is a player on the rise and has got the potential to grow into a future star in European football.
The Brazilian has already won a couple of major trophies in Portuguese football, so his winning mindset could help the Merseyside outfit challenge for some silverware over the next few years. All in all, we can expect Nunes to bring plenty of energy and dynamism to Everton’s senior squad which makes him a decent, long-term acquisition for them this summer.
