Everton have reportedly now held 'contacts' over the possibility of signing Matheus Nunes.

The Lowdown: In demand

Nunes is a player in demand after an impressive season at Sporting Lisbon, with both Newcastle United and Wolves also reportedly interested in his signature.

He ranked in the club's top five performers in Liga Portugal and the UEFA Champions League last term, and averaged more dribbles per game in both competitions than any of his teammates (WhoScored).

Nonetheless, given the number of players that have moved to the Premier League from Portuguese football in recent times, notably Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez joining Liverpool, Nunes is another player to keep an eye out for this window.

The Latest: 'Contacts'

As per A Bola (via Sport Witness), the Goodison Park outfit, as well as a number of other clubs in the top flight, have now held 'informal contacts' over a potential move for Nunes, and he is a 'desirable target' for the Merseysiders.

This is not the first time that they have held interest, as they appeared 'close' to signing him last summer, but then manager Rafa Benitez pulled the plug on the deal.

However, they claim that it will take a fee in the region of €45m (£38.6m) in order to sign him, while other reports have put that number even higher.

The Verdict: Sign

Of course, it may be difficult for the Toffees to come up with that kind of money for Nunes, but if they can raise enough funds through player sales, then he is certainly a player that they should be looking to sign.

Capable of playing as a defensive midfielder and in a box-to-box role (Transfermarkt), the 23-year-old possesses unique speed and technique that can get himself out of tight situations and set off attacks.

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Former teammate Goncalo Santos has claimed that he is ‘unbelievable’ when the ball is at his feet, and that he is ‘impossible’ to catch because he is ‘too fast’ (The Liverpool Echo).

The Portugal international would definitely elevate the quality of Frank Lampard's midfield.

In other news, find out who the Blues have now enquired about signing here!