Everton’s Interest In 25 G/A Star Pushes Price To €25m: What Should The Toffees Actually Do?

Everton’s transfer interest is already raising Doumbia’s price tag The 22-year-old registered 10 goals and five assists in 38 appearances during Venezia’s promotion-winning Serie B campaign, turning him into one of the most sought-after young midfielders outside Italy’s top flight. Venezia are fully aware that Everton and Newcastle are providing strong competition, and the Italian club are using that interest to push his valuation closer to €20m this summer. How is Everton’s name moving the goalposts?

What looked like a €15m deal at first is now drifting higher, as Venezia want to cash in as much as possible given the growing number of suitors. Sporting have already opened talks and have a five-year contract prepared for Doumbia until 2031, complete with defined salary terms and an €80m release clause, and the player himself wants the move to Portugal. Sporting’s sudden urgency makes total sense.

Premier League involvement alone tends to inflate negotiations quickly, particularly when a 22-year-old midfielder is scoring goals from central positions. Benfica made an approach worth €15m plus bonuses and still fell short of Venezia’s expectations, which has set a higher price floor for any subsequent talks. The Friedkin Group are understood to be doing extensive background work on Doumbia, with both Roma and Everton emerging as potential destinations within their multi-club network.

That injects extra complexity into the race, given the ownership group’s reach across European football. Why Everton must decide quickly on the Doumbia question? Everton need to refresh their midfield this summer, with James Garner and Kieran Dewsbury-Hall attracting interest from elsewhere, and Idrissa Gueye’s contract expiring, though the club hold a 12-month extension option.