The Portuguese star has impressed in outings for Monaco this season.
AS Monaco midfielder Joao Moutinho has confirmed that he does still want to play in the Premier League one day. He told Le Parisien:
“I have always said that one day I would like to play in the Premier League.
“But for the moment, I’m happy here at Monaco. I’m going to continue to give my best until the day we decide to part company, but today that’s not an issue.”
Joao Moutinho celebrates scoring for Monaco
Of course, he has been linked with plenty of moves to the English top-flight in the past. Tottenham Hotspur for example came very close to signing the player.
Another team who have been heavily linked with a move for Moutinho in the past is Everton.
David Moyes was a huge fan of Moutinho and tried on several occasions to sign the player. In July 2008 for example Sporting Lisbon rejected an £11.8 million bid from Everton, according to the BBC, with Sporting wanting £19.7 million for the then 21-year-old.
Portugal’s Joao Moutinho celebrates scoring during the penalty shootout
In May 2010 he was again linked with Everton, with Goal.com suggesting the Toffees would spend £17 million on the player.
Moutinho moved on to Porto before joining Monaco in 2013 and the 30-year-old now has 94 caps for Portugal and has become one of the better midfield options in Europe.
So should Ronald Koeman take up the previous interest from Moyes and try to bring Moutinho to England?
Everton clearly need to improve their team as recent results have shown their early season form was not indicative of a complete refurb.
David Moyes
Gareth Barry is getting no younger, James McCarthy’s form remains sketchy, Mo Besic is a long-term injury concern and Idrissa Gana Gueye’s early season form has tailed off.
Moutinho, who is unlikely to leave Monaco before the summer, would be the sort of marquee signing that Everton need to continue moving up in class under their new management.
Hopefully they can resurrect the failed deals of 2008 and 2011 in 2017.
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