Everton have been linked to another Brazilian youngster in the form of Fluminense striker Kaua Elias, a player described as a ‘clinical finisher’ with superb technique.
That is according to French title Homme Du Match, which says Lille and Benfica are also interested in the 18-year-old. It says a fee of around £6m would be enough to secure the signing of the youngster, who has a contract until December 2029.
Elias has been a star performer for Brazil’s under age teams, netting 9 goals in 12 appearances for Brazil u17s and an incredible 16 in 16 at u16 level, starring in the same age group as Real Madrid’s Endrick. According to scout reports, he is a dynamic, goal-scoring striker who likes to drop deep and drift to the wings as a ‘second striker’ beside a more traditional target man.
According to Football Talent Scout: “is a dynamic forward renowned for his versatility and technical prowess on the field. He excels in scoring goals with clinical finishing ability, often contributing with his creative playmaking ability and ball driving skills. Elias combines these attributes with a strong presence in the attacking third, making him a valuable asset to Fluminense and a prospect attracting attention from European clubs.”
It is not the first time Everton have been linked with the forward. A month ago Everton were included in a list of clubs that included Manchester United, Fulham, Napoli and Real Sociedad in being admirers of Elias, while last year Arsenal were heavily linked. The player himself has spoken of his desire to play in Europe and has been tipped by many for the very top.
Everton have increasingly been linked to Brazilian talents and while the links may seem unusual it could hint at a wider change in strategy for the club. Last year Everton hired two permanent South American scouts under Kevin Thelwell’s recruitment overhall. The two full-time scouts began work in 2023 and would hopefully be recommending players to the wider team by now.
Brazil and Argentina were seen as priorities for Thelwell, who later added European scouts in Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium and Scandanavia over the past 12 months.
As a result Everton have increasingly been linked with Brazilian talent. In the summer the club was widely linked with forward Alisson Santana, although a reported release clause of £50m was far out of the club’s spending ability. Reports in Brazil also said Everton representatives had asked about Brahian Palacios, a Colombian winger playing for Atletico Miniero alongside Santana.
However, while individual rumours should always be taken with a pinch of salt the club is increasingly active in the South American market and it should be no surprise to fans if Thelwell’s team begin to recruit from a market seen as providing better value for money than many in Europe.
The club was also briefly linked with Victor Roque of Barcelona, the Brazilian wonderkid who has struggled to make an impact at the club. A loan deal was reported in summer 2024 but seemed far fetched and did not actually come to fruition.