Are Martins and de Ligt links an indicator of Everton’s intentions next season?

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Everton are reportedly readying a £50million swoop for the pair and could well be ready to kick on in the new season under Marco Silva.

Everton are considering making a move to sign winger Gelson Martins and coveted young defender Matthijs de Ligt according to the Telegraph, with the Toffees seeking to break into the top six next season.

Despite a comfortable eighth-placed finish last term, most Everton fans were disappointed with what they saw at Goodison Park.

Results were poor under Ronald Koeman, as were performances under his successor Sam Allardyce, and by the end fans were left wanting.

Everton’s team looked laboured by the end of the season, so the supposed targeting of Martins and de Ligt by new duo Marcel Brands and Marco Silva could be just what the club needs to kick on.

The Telegraph state that de Ligt is supposedly being courted by some of the top clubs around Europe and would cost in the region of £50million to sign, with Martins a potential free transfer after cancelling his contract with Sporting CP after the recent alleged fan attack.

Both players would bring youth and vitality to the side – something that was severely lacking last season – and, in the case of Martins, a creative spark in the final third as highlighted by his stats of eight goals and eight assists in Liga NOS last season.

At the back, Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka are not getting any younger, and de Ligt is already playing way beyond his years at Ajax. Everton should be able to offer him regular first-team football where European giants might not.

Targeting such players has to make for welcome news for Everton supporters. The team needs an injection of energy, and it looks like Brands and Silva are aware of that. Pulling off such a deal could well help them break into the top six in the process.