It has been three years since Andre Gomes and Yerry Mina smiled widely at the cameras with their thumbs up, delighted to have signed for Everton.
The duo arrived from Barcelona along with Lucas Digne to join Marco Silva’s Toffees in 2018 and have since been key first-team players.
While left-back Digne has excelled in replacing Leighton Baines, it has to be said Gomes and Mina’s time with the Blues has been affected by serious injury and fitness problems. However, they have been integral members of the squad, relied upon and impressing in various spells.
With that in mind, could it be time for Everton revisit Catalonia to take advantage of Barcelona’s current transfer malaise?
According to Goal, the Spanish giants desperately need to trim £156m off their wage bill due to LaLiga salary rules and will need to cash in on some of their highest earners. If not, they will be unable to register new signings Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia while re-signing Lionel Messi, currently a free agent as of June 30 but in talks with the club, will be made more difficult.
There are a few names who could certainly interest Director of Football Marcel Brands and Rafa Benitez this summer.
Philippe Coutinho
For fifteen years, Everton haven’t fielded an ex-Liverpool player, not since signing Sander Westerveld on a short-term deal. However, after appointing former Reds boss Benitez, could they look to also land their rivals’ former playmaker?
The Toffees enjoyed James Rodriguez's laser-like precision last season and Coutinho boasts a similar eye for a pass, with skill and guile helping him carve out assists from nowhere.
According to the Mirror, the 29-year-old could be available for just £20m, a figure which makes a possible purchase seriously tempting. However, this is a player at a low ebb, having struggled for form and consistency and it would be a gamble, no matter the fee and the Toffees may be eager to find a player on the cusp of an upward trajectory.
Neto
Everton’s number one Jordan Pickford revealed this week how facing competition from Robin Olsen helped spur him on to excel in the second half of last season and the Blues will be keen to provide him with quality back-up for the upcoming campaign.
While Swede Olsen will return to parent club Roma following the Euros, the Toffees have been linked with a move for Barcelona’s Neto though face competition from Arsenal, the Express claims.
The Brazilian, who is six months older than Olsen and turns 32 this month, has been the main man between the sticks at Fiorentina and Valencia in the last decade while being an able deputy at both Juventus and Barcelona and could prove a valuable and experienced addition.
Miralem Pjanic
The Bosnian may be 31 but could his quality in possession help Everton as they look to challenge for a place in the top six?
It is yet to be seen the type of profile Benitez and Brands will look for this summer but in Pjanic, the Toffees would be signing a player with vast experience in the Champions League.
An excellent passer, Pjanic would help dictate the Toffees rhythm and tempo with positive movement on and off the ball. Reportedly available for less than half the £54m Barca forked out to sign him last year, it could be a shrewd move, similar to the signing of Gareth Barry; an older head who knows how to keep the play ticking over.
Carlo Ancelotti signed James, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan last summer, three players in their prime and ready for the challenge of competing in the here and now. Benitez may look for players at a similar stage for instant progress.
