Everton face Italian competition for Barcelona midfielder

Even though Everton have prioritized making the signing of Andre Gomes permanent this summer, it appears things might not go according to plan for the Blues.

The on-loan Portuguese midfielder has done well so far this season, and has already played nearly double the number of minutes he managed for Barcelona last season. Marco Silva has alluded to making an effort to making the loan permanent this coming summer, something that Marcel Brands has also indicated.

However now it appears there might be another team in the reckoning for the player, but at the same time it might be Barca playing mindgames as well trying to drive up the pricetag on the player.

Catalan daily Sport (via SportWitness) reports today that the Merseyside club remain ‘best placed’ to ink the player, but there is another club that has not been identified that will challenge the Toffees who are looking to pay between €25-30m for the player that cost €37m the Blaugrana in the summer of 2016.

They do confirm however that Barca are looking to sell the player for sure this summer, which is a good sign for Everton. The 25-year-old has struggled with injury and fatigue this season, but has brought stability to the Blues’ midfield and is likely to remain a transfer focus for a number of sides who have been linked with him earlier this season including Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.

UPDATE: Turns out the ‘other’ team is Inter Milan from Italy, and the sum is slightly lower than previously indicated at €20-25m. Here is Albert Roge, a writer from Sport.