Everton in for Hamburg’s Brazilian starlet?

It may be the middle of February with an important match against Sunderland coming up, but that doesn’t mean the transfer news stops. The latest Everton-linked report is out of Germany concerning Hamburg’s Walace, a Brazilian defensive midfielder who made a January move to the Bundesliga from Gremio.

Valued at €9,000,000, it’s not readily apparent where Walace would fit into the side. Morgan Schneiderlin and Idrissa Gueye are set to be the first choice midfield pair for years to come. Tom Davies and James McCarthy clearly have important roles to play, while Gareth Barry doesn’t seem quite finished yet and Muhamed Besic is on the cusp of returning from injury.

Photo by Friedemann Vogel/Getty Images

It’s always encouraging to see Everton linked with promising young players across Europe, but it seems likely that Leicester City (also rumored to be readying a bid) would be able to offer Walace a larger role in the Premier League.

If McCarthy is sold to another English side and Gareth Barry rides into the sunset, Walace could be a name worth revisiting, but for now, this is one rumor you can expect to die on the vine.