Napoli midfielder Allan has bid an emotional farewell to the Serie A giants as he closes in on a move to Premier League outfit Everton, in quotes reported by CalcioNapoli24.
13 months after Idrissa Gana Gueye’s Parisian dream became a reality, the Toffees are finally on the verge of landing a tenacious, tigerish central midfielder capable of stepping into the Senegalese’s shoes in the heart of midfield.
Everton have agreed an initial £22 million fee with Napoli, according to the Guardian.
This means Brazil international Allan is on the verge of a long-awaited reunion with his former Partenopei coach Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison Park.
Napoli president Aurelio di Laurentiis even confirmed that his 29-year-old enforcer ‘will go to Everton’ before the transfer window slams shut.
Now, the man himself has spoken at a farewell celebration alongside his Napoli teammates.
“What to say to the Neopolitans? Just one thing; thanks for everything,” the former Udinese man says.
Statistically speaking, Allan looks every inch the Gueye replacement that Everton have been crying out for.
The South American averaged almost four tackles per game in the Champions League and, during a group-stage clash with Liverpool last year, he dominated Jurgen Klopp’s star-studded team from start to finish.
Allan is more than happy to do the so-called ‘dirty work’ in his favoured box-to-box role, potentially giving Andre Gomes, Gylfi Sigurdsson and even James Rodriguez the freedom to strut their stuff further up the pitch.
He is not the most glamorous of signings but balance and energy are two attributes that Everton’s midfield has been lacking for far too long.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
