Everton are reportedly pursuing Koln’s Leonardo Bittencourt.
Everton will be in the market for new signings this summer, and whilst director of football Steve Walsh could lose his job, the potentially arrival of Marcel Brands may bring some exciting additions.
With Wayne Rooney seemingly on his way to Major League Soccer side DC United, there may be a spot for a player who can play as a playmaker and out wide, with one new name in the frame.
EXPRESS report that Everton – along with West Ham United – have made a move for Koln star Leonardo Bittencourt, who has a €8million (£7million) release clause in his contract after the club suffered relegation from the Bundesliga.
Bittencourt, 24, enjoyed a fine end to the season despite his teammates struggles, hitting four goals and two assists in his last four games, sparking major interest.
The German playmaker could provide a spark for Everton alongside Gylfi Sigurdsson and Theo Walcott, and the Toffees would also give him the opportunity to haunt Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp may currently be managing Everton’s rivals Liverpool, but he once managed Bittencourt at Borussia Dortmund, before allowing him to leave in order to join Hannover in 2013.
Klopp was even quoted by Sky Sports in 2014 as saying that he was looking to re-sign Bittencourt for Dortmund as he had blossomed, fulfilling the potential he showed but couldn’t unlock at Signal Iduna Park.
Bittencourt would be an absolute bargain for Everton, and he would be able to show Klopp just how good he has become in the years since they parted ways – and do it whilst starring across Stanley Park as he could come back to haunt his former manager with a move to Merseyside.
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