Everton have reportedly been offered the opportunity to sign 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder Wendel this summer.
According to Coluna Do Fla, Flamengo have been dealt with a massive blow in their pursuit of Wendel. The 24-year-old Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder has become a top target for the Brazilian outfit this summer, but it appears the player’s agent wants him to remain in Europe.
As such, Wendel has been offered to Everton and Napoli, two clubs who had expressed their desire to sign the midfielder in the past. It is believed the player wants to return to Brazil, but his agent feels he still has a market in Europe. He also was not impressed by Flamengo’s attitude during negotiations, which means a move to Goodison Park could now be on the table.
A central midfielder by trade, Wendel has been a part of Zenit St. Petersburg since the summer of 2020. The 24-year-old had joined the club for a hefty figure of €20 million. It was quite an investment from the Russian giants, who desperately wanted some stability in the middle of the park.
Two years since his move to Zenit, Wendel has featured in 55 competitive matches. As far as his work rate and versatility are concerned, the 24-year-old has lived up to the expectations and is now wanted by a series of European clubs, including Everton and Napoli.
Everton’s interest in Wendel likely stems from the club losing out on Donny van de Beek. The Toffees have also parted with Fabian Delph and Gylfi Sigurdsson, which has left a massive void in the middle of the park. It has accentuated the need for fresh reinforcements in the second line of press, and that is where Wendel comes into the fray.
The Brazilian could be an interesting investment from Everton as he offers the work-ethic in the middle and should strengthen the second line of press for Lampard’s men. It could come in handy, particularly at a time when the Toffees the struggling with a lack of quality in midfield and face several financial hurdles in the market. Meanwhile, another midfielder on Everton’s radar is Morgan Gibbs-White.
However, the Merseysiders must be wary of the competition from Napoli. The Partenopei are in a position to offer UEFA Champions League football and may even offer more lucrative wages. Everton, though, can offer more game-time to Wendel, so it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the Brazilian this summer.
