---
title: "Everton talking points: Gueye agreement, Luiz stance, & Grealish fitness wait"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/everton-talking-points-gueye-luiz-grealish/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2026-07-16T06:45:24Z"
modified: "2026-07-16T06:45:49Z"
---

# Everton talking points: Gueye agreement, Luiz stance, & Grealish fitness wait

***A deal for a new midfielder took shape, an old one edged closer to a return, and Grealish’s future came down to one thing: fitness. Here’s what mattered at Everton on Wednesday.***

### Gueye agreement edges Everton closer to a fourth signing

Everton have reportedly [reached an agreement with Villarreal for Pape Gueye](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/15/everton-pape-gueye-villarreal-agreement/), worth around £24m plus roughly £4m in add-ons tied to Champions League qualification, with the Toffees understood to have moved ahead of Man United, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Sunderland to get a deal over the line.

Gueye’s performances at this summer’s [World Cup](https://dave.sport/sport/world-cup) appear to have accelerated things, and if it goes through he’d become Everton’s fourth signing of the summer — a fitting like-for-like reinforcement in midfield with Idrissa Gana Gueye having left the club as a free agent this month. Personal terms and a medical are still to be finalised, so treat this as an agreement in principle for now.

### Fiorentina muscle in on Oulai

Everton’s interest in Christ Inao Oulai [faces sterner competition](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/15/everton-oulai-fiorentina-competition-trabzonspor/), with Fiorentina reported to have stepped up their offer to Trabzonspor for the Ivory Coast midfielder. Trabzonspor are holding out for around £34.1m, and with Barcelona, PSG and Chelsea also credited with interest at various points, Everton may need developments elsewhere in the chase if they’re to stay in the picture.

### Douglas Luiz open to a Premier League return

Douglas Luiz is [open to joining Everton](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/15/douglas-luiz-open-to-everton-move-as-juve-midfielder-considers-premier-league-return/) this summer, with the Brazilian midfielder considering a return to England after a difficult spell at Juventus. It follows Everton’s formal enquiry to Juventus a day earlier — the player’s willingness is a positive step, but a fee with the Italian club still needs to be agreed before anything moves forward.

### Grealish’s fitness holds up any decision

Everton’s position on Jack Grealish has [become clear](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/15/everton-jack-grealish-transfer-stance-recovery-update/): no move, permanent or loan, until his recovery is further along. There’s no confirmed return date following the foot injury that ended his 2025/26 loan spell early, and the club want him match-ready rather than take on a player who still needs weeks of rehabilitation.

Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy and Como’s Assane Diao remain the alternatives if a deal doesn’t happen.

### Branthwaite’s presence in Scotland offers reassurance

Away from the incomings, Jarrad Branthwaite was [fully involved in training](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/15/jarrad-branthwaite-everton-scotland-pre-season/) at Everton’s pre-season camp in St Andrews, a welcome sight after a hamstring injury disrupted the end of last season and amid the usual round of transfer speculation.

With Everton’s first pre-season fixture against Dundee just days away, keeping hold of a defender of Branthwaite’s calibre is arguably as important as anything happening in the market.