Everton to swoop for Barcelona linked playmaker?

In addition to goals from someone other than Romelu Lukaku, one of Ronald Koeman’s biggest projects for Everton this summer has been to try and add creativity to the side. Many names have been linked, including Swansea City’s star man Gylfi Sigurdsson, and the latest is Brazilian attacker Lucas Lima.

26 years old, Lima currently plies his trade at Santos in the Brazilian league. Barcelona had been rumored to want the player, but that report has seem to cool off in the last few days, with Lima perhaps wanting more playing time than the Catalans can offer. The report, roughly translated from Mundo Deportivo:

Lucas Lima, a player with Santos FC, has been linked recently with Barça as one of the market options to occupy the core line. Barça has confirmed to MD that it does not contemplate it at present like a real option. Everton de Koeman and the Fenerbache of the Turkish League would have shown their interest in securing the services of the Brazilian midfielder.

The player is interested in recruiting a team in the European territory, trying to give a qualitative leap to his football career after the accumulated baggage in Brazil. Lima can join any team without the receiving club pay a transfer figure to get their services.

There is no rumored fee for the Brazilian (he’s valued at around €9 million), and it’s possible he would even be available on a free transfer. Lucas Lima already has 5 assists in 6 Brazilian Serie A appearances this season. He has 2 career goals for Brazil’s national team during his career.

It’s certainly plausible that Barcelona could sign Lima after all, particularly given his friendship with Neymar. Either way, it’s encouraging that Everton’s pursuit of a creative fulcrum for the side has not slowed down - Koeman knows he needs a backup plan in case Swansea refuse to budge on their Icelandic midfielder.