Everton witnessed a wonderful start to the new season on Saturday afternoon as Rafa Benitez’s Goodison Park reign started with a win.

It has been a difficult summer for the Toffees but an opening victory will do the atmosphere wonders after some of the toxic negativity spread throughout Merseyside in the last few months.

What’s the word?

Next on the agenda in the transfer market for Everton is signing a right-back and a central midfielder.

They are close to landing Aurelio Buta from Royal Antwerp but they’re now looking within the Premier League to bolster their ranks.

In an exciting update from Fabrizio Romano, the journalist revealed that the Toffees had an interest in Manchester United’s Andreas Pereira.

He said: “Everton have approached Manchester United for Andreas Pereira. Many clubs are interested in signing Andreas on loan, Man Utd still prioritize permanent sale.”

Pereira is currently valued at just £7.2m via Transfermarkt.

Fans buzzing

Everton have had a difficult summer on the transfer front but this is a report that supporters should be genuinely excited about.

After all, the club have been linked with some rather mediocre midfield players in recent weeks.

Tottenham and England’s Harry Winks has been touted with a switch while Benitez has also cast his eyes towards one of his former players; Sean Longstaff at Newcastle.

However, Pereira is arguably the better player and would offer a wide-ranging set of attributes to Everton.

For instance, during the course of their respective Premier League careers, Winks and Longstaff have only managed four goals between them.

Their numbers from a defensive point of view are also fairly average. The Spurs midfielder completed 1.1 tackles per match last term while Newcastle’s academy product made 1.4 successful challenges a game.

Pereira, however, is adept in offensive situations as well as in the defensive third.

The Brazilian once found the net five times in one season for Granada, providing three assists for teammates in the process.

As well as producing goals, the Man United talent isn’t afraid to get stuck into a physical duel. He won 1.2 tackles per game in that aforementioned season for instance.

Capable of providing more than Winks and Longstaff, Everton supporters should be delighted if they pursue him instead.

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