Everton have reportedly made contact over Napoli’s 35-year-old Man City legend, but do Moyes’ side actually need him?

Everton have reportedly made first contact over a January move for Kevin De Bruyne, and it is a story that would have sounded absurd at the start of the season.

According to Calciomercato, the Toffees have spoken to the 35-year-old’s representatives to judge their “real chances” of bringing him back to the Premier League. The Italian outlet says the Belgian is going through a difficult spell at Napoli, and that he was taken off late on in the game against Lazio.

There is a big catch. Napoli may not want to let him go in the middle of the season, and could push any talks back until June.

Why are Everton looking at De Bruyne?

Because things are going well, and David Moyes’ side are starting to think bigger. The 3-1 win over Coventry was their fourth league win of the season and took them up to sixth.

De Bruyne joined Napoli on a free transfer in the summer of 2025 after ten years at Manchester City, where he scored 108 goals and made 177 assists in 422 games. His first season in Italy was hit by injury, but he has played in all 15 of Napoli’s Serie A and Champions League games this term, with four goals and two assists. His contract runs until June 2027.

Where would he play for Moyes?

This is where it gets awkward. The No.10 role belongs to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall at the moment, and he is in the best form of his career. Plenty of people thought he was unlucky to miss out on the England squad this month.

De Bruyne could drop deeper alongside James Garner or Harrison Armstrong, and he did plenty of that at City. But he is 35, he does not have the burst he used to, and he would want to know he would play every week before swapping Naples for Merseyside.

What about up front?

That is the bigger issue. Thierno Barry is the only recognised senior striker in the squad, and he is carrying a heavy load. His brace against Coventry took him to ten goals in all competitions, and only Erling Haaland (nine) and Alexander Isak (seven) have more Premier League goals this season than his six.

Barry told evertontv: “I want to make this season mine, so I just work a lot every time to do my best. I’ve worked a lot during pre-season, and also with Bainesy during training sessions.”

Everton have been linked with Palmeiras striker Vitor Roque, and they have also been named among the clubs keen on Flamengo winger Samuel Lino. Flamengo turned down a €25m offer from Roma for Lino in the last window, and he is now having the best season of his career, so he will not come cheap either.

Is Kevin De Bruyne to Everton a good idea?

As a statement, yes. As a piece of squad building, we are not convinced. De Bruyne would be a brilliant extra option for a side pushing for Europe, and the idea of him running games at Hill Dickinson Stadium is hard not to enjoy.

But Everton’s real need is a second striker to share the load with Barry. If Napoli want a fee for a 35-year-old with six months left on his deal by January, that money is better spent on goals. Unless Napoli let him go cheaply, this one feels like a summer conversation, not a January one.