In a recent print edition, Corriere Dello Sport has stated that Everton are set to win the race for Napoli midfielder Allan this summer. Gazzetta Dello Sport has backed their claim as well as they reveal that the Merseyside club holds a trump card which could tip the scales in their favour in pursuit of the Serie A talent in this off-season.
It is believed that the Toffees are in pole position ahead of Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in the chase to secure the signature of the Brazilian international, who is eager to be reunited with his former manager and current Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison Park (transcripted and translated by Sport Witness).
Allan’s Brilliant Career At The Stadio San Paolo
Allan has enjoyed a solid career at Naples after making a total of 212 appearances for them while netting 11 goals and grabbing 16 assists thus far in multiple competitions. The eight-time Brazil international is more renowned for his defensive contributions in midfield as evident from his average of 2.5 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 0.7 clearances and 2.5 long balls per 90 minutes in the Italian top-flight and the UEFA Champions League last season. Allan has completed 87.4% of his attempted passes in league football which goes to show just how neat he can be when distributing the ball from midfield (stats via whoscored).
The 29-year-old has gained a wealth of experience at the highest level, so this summer could be the ideal time for him to make a switch to England where he will be tested both physically as well as mentally week in week out. The Merseysiders have sometimes lacked creativity and variety in their midfield over the past year, which is why Allan would be an excellent fit for them before the start of the new season.
What Will The Brazilian Midfield Ace Bring To Goodison Park?
Allan is a tough-tackling, no-nonsense midfielder who is usually quick to deal with the danger inside his half. He can contribute by pulling off a few crucial clearances when his teammates are left exposed at the back. The Brazilian is tidy when interchanging possession at the centre of the park and is not shy of going long with his passes if he spots a teammate making a good run in the opposition half.
Everton can benefit from adding a multi-talented and experienced midfielder like Allan to their squad ahead of the new campaign. He has previously played under Ancelotti during their time together at Naples, so he won’t have any trouble settling into the Italian tactician’s style of play at the blue half of Merseyside next season.
Allan is currently playing at his prime and would no doubt improve the quality of the Toffees first-team if Ancelotti can agree on a fee with Napoli for him during this summer transfer period. He will also serve as a significant upgrade over Tom Davies, Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph and Gylfi Sigurdsson at Goodison Park in the coming seasons.
