Everton and West Ham United are reportedly interested in signing 27-year-old Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, Everton and West Ham United are interested in Arthur Melo. Fiorentina can trigger a purchase option to complete a permanent deal for the Juventus loanee. However, the Brazilian midfielder’s €5.5 million-a-year wages pose a problem for La Viola. Meanwhile, the two Premier League clubs have made contacts to sign him in the summer transfer window.
Arthur Melo and his struggles
Arthur Melo has endured a fall from grace since leaving Barcelona to join Juventus in September 2020. The switch to Turin was a part of an exchange deal that saw Miralem Pjanic move the other way. However, neither transfer worked out, with the former Barcelona midfielder struggling to establish a foothold in the first-team squad at the Allianz Stadium.
A loan move to Liverpool in the 2023/24 season did not work out either, but Fiorentina took a chance on him last summer. The Brazilian midfielder has been a regular for La Viola, amassing nearly 3,000 minutes of game time across 47 appearances in all competitions, chipping in with two goals and four assists.
While the 27-year-old has convinced Fiorentina to launch a permanent move with his displays, a deal will not materialise due to his €5.5 million-a-year wages. However, that might not be an issue for Premier League clubs, with Everton and West Ham United interested in handing him an escape route from Juventus. The two Premier League clubs have established contact to sign him.
Premier League move on the horizon?
Everton’s interest in Arthur Melo is understandable. The Toffees are keen on signing a midfielder in the summer transfer window amid uncertainties surrounding the future of Amadou Onana. Several candidates, including Leander Dendoncker, have thus emerged on Everton’s radar. However, the struggling Juventus midfielder is also a viable target.
As for West Ham, the Hammers are in a spot of bother over Lucas Paqueta’s long-term future due to the latest revelations in his betting scandal. So, they are scouring the market for a midfielder, with Arthur emerging as a viable target.
Juventus will look to quickly sell Arthur amid his links with Everton and West Ham United. They are eager to get his €5.5 million-a-year wages off their books, and it will be interesting to see how negotiations for his departure progress.
