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

Everton have yet to submit a formal offer for Issa Doumbia, but their presence in the race is already reshaping the transfer market around the Venezia midfielder. According to Portuguese newspapers A Bola and Record, Sporting CP are accelerating their pursuit this week, reportedly preparing a trip to Milan to negotiate directly with Venezia, because they fear Premier League clubs will soon dominate the conversation.

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. The need for midfield reinforcement is real, not just a matter of tracking targets on a whim.

Doumbia generally plays in a box-to-box midfield role but is also effective in defensive midfield, and his versatility has put clubs on alert across the continent. His contract with Venezia runs until June 2029, which also strengthens the Italian club’s negotiating position considerably.

My Take: What Should Everton Actually Do?

LECCE, ITALY – APRIL 06: Issa Doumbia of Venezia during the Serie A match between Lecce and Venezia at Stadio Via del Mare on April 06, 2025 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

I feel that Everton cannot afford to sit back and watch any longer. Every week they spend waiting, the price climbs further out of reach. At around £17m, Doumbia represents excellent value for a 22-year-old box-to-box midfielder who contributes both goals and assists consistently. That number will not stay still. Newcastle carry bigger financial muscle, and Sporting already have a contract on the table. Waiting is effectively letting someone else make the decision.

The Friedkin Group’s involvement through the Roma connection gives Everton a clear advantage here. They already have scouting data and the relational groundwork done. They should use it. A pre-emptive bid in the €18–20m range, made promptly, could end the auction before it truly begins. Doumbia is a good option for modern pressing football and offers genuine productivity from midfield, something Everton have clearly lacked in recent seasons. The window for a sensible deal is open right now, but it won’t stay open for long.