Everton, Newcastle United have been tipped to take Juventus ace Stefano Sturaro to the Premier League and his agent has confirmed the Toffees’ interest.
It almost goes without saying at this stage but Everton simply do not need another midfielder.
Sam Allardyce has Morgan Schneiderlin, Idrissa Gueye, Tom Davies, Beni Beningime and Mo Besic to pick from in the deeper positions, while a whole host of players are fighting over that coveted number ten role currently occupied by Wayne Rooney.
Nonetheless, the agent of Juventus man Stefano Sturaro has told Il Bianco Nero that Everton are interested in signing his client this month.
“In Italy, 80 per cent of clubs want him, some more insistently than others. Abroad, Valencia and Everton are the sides that principally want him,” Carlo Volpi said, before clarifying that Sturaro has an important part to play at Juventus despite making only four Serie A appearances this season.
Sturaro is a full Italian international who has won Serie A and the Coppa Italia three times apiece since moving to Juve from Genoa in 2014. He is also a highly versatile player, capable of playing in defensive or attacking midfield roles – and even at right-back if required.
But it is hard to tell what he would offer Everton that they don’t already have. Surely a team like Newcastle United, whose interest was confirmed by Volpi back in September, would be a more sensible destination for a player who has struggled for game time in a star-studded Juve squad.
The tenacity and energy of Sturaro combined with the class and technique of Mikel Merino would ensure that at least one part of Newcastle’s squad has undoubted Premier League quality.
For now, however, surely Everton should be devoting their time to finding a left-back and another centre forward.
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