David Moyes didn’t return to Everton to make up the numbers.

With the club in need of smart squad-building, his second spell promises a more ambitious approach. That outlook has already shaped Everton’s summer.

The permanent signings of Carlos Alcaraz from Flamengo and Thierno Barry from Villarreal, along with Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich, suggest a clear shift towards technical, mobile players who can play through pressure.

But Moyes still wants one more key addition - a player with the composure to dictate rhythm in attack, and the tactical awareness to protect the defence.

Someone who can carry the creative burden left behind by the likes of Abdoulaye Doucouré, who departed the club alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ashley Young this summer.

That figure could soon arrive. And while he’s not yet an established name in Italy, he’s no stranger to the Premier League.

Everton's priority midfield target emerges

According to GIVEMESPORT, Douglas Luiz, who once thrived at Aston Villa, is firmly on Everton’s radar as Juventus prepare for a late-window departure.

The Old Lady, for their part, are holding out for a £39m fee but are open to loan arrangements if no permanent buyers emerge before deadline day.

Everton are monitoring developments closely and the club is prepared to move in the final weeks of the window - particularly if Luiz remains on the market - having already made a loan enquiry.

A deal would likely be structured around an initial loan with an option to buy, given the financial limits imposed by Everton’s ongoing compliance with FFP regulations.

Such interest has been corroborated by Fabrizio Romano, who stated that three Premier League clubs are in direct contact with Luiz’s camp - Everton and Nottingham Forest among them.

Luiz’s time in Italy has been underwhelming.

Since making a £42m move from Aston Villa, he has struggled to impose himself under either Thiago Motta or Igor Tudor, making just six starts in Serie A last season and featuring for only 45 minutes at the Club World Cup.

Still, his technical quality remains undisputed - It’s no surprise that Luiz continues to attract admirers. In 2024, ESPN Brazil’s Leonardo Bertozzi described him as world-class.

“On the national team level, he will be one of the leading names for the 2026 World Cup.”

For Everton, the prospect of acquiring Luiz on loan, with a view to a permanent move, would represent an astute piece of business.

He wants to return to England, and Goodison Park could give him the platform to rediscover his best form.

Why Luiz could be Moyes' new Arteta

If Everton do get their man, comparisons to a certain former blue won’t be far behind. In his pomp under Moyes, Mikel Arteta was the heartbeat of Everton’s midfield.

A graceful and intelligent operator, he could switch tempo, pick out a pass, and arrive late in the box to score.

His 2006/07 campaign, marked by nine goals and nine assists in 35 games, remains a benchmark for midfielders in blue. Douglas Luiz offers similar potential.

Despite limited minutes, according to data from FBref, Luiz ranked fifth last season in the Juventus squad for both passing accuracy (89.5%) and successful dribbles (72.2%), while also contributing three big chances created and a solid 0.69 key passes per game.

Those numbers, while not elite, reflect a player capable of impacting games even when on the fringes.

Like Arteta, he came through under Guardiola’s influence, albeit at Manchester City rather than Barcelona, and shares a similar mix of technique and tactical intelligence.

During his peak at Aston Villa, Luiz was an all-action midfielder.

He pressed high, recycled possession with ease, and regularly contributed in the final third, with nine goals and five assists in the 2023/24 Premier League season.

Statistically, Luiz offers a slightly different skillset to Arteta, with a greater emphasis on carrying and dribbling through midfield rather than serving purely as a distributor.

But his ability to dictate games from deep, maintain high pass accuracy, and play through pressure makes him an ideal fit for Moyes’ system.

He may not tackle with the frequency of Idrissa Gueye, but his intelligent positioning and ability to escape tight spaces provide a more rounded midfield profile.

Perhaps more importantly, Luiz is a player with something to prove. At 27, he’s entering his prime years and eager to re-establish himself as a key figure for Brazil ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Everton, with a stable role and clearly defined structure under Moyes, could provide the perfect stage.

While the financials may be tight - Luiz still has four years left on a contract worth over £150k per week - a well-structured loan move could make the deal viable.

Juventus want to offload him, Luiz wants to play, and Everton need a man in midfield.

Back in 2005, Moyes signed a young Spanish midfielder who would go on to define his Everton side for the next five years. In 2025, history may be about to repeat itself.