Toffees hoping to beat Italian giants to midfield ace.
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Everton are preparing to go up against Serie A champions Juventus in the race to sign Porto midfielder Fernando in January, talkSPORT reports.
The powerful defensive midfielder was on the verge of making a switch to Goodison Park during the summer transfer window only to have a change of heart at the last minute. The Toffees instead signed midfielders James McCarthy for £12.5million and Gareth Barry on loan while allowing Marouane Fellaini to join Manchester United.
Roberto Martinez is believed to still be interested in the 26-year-old, but will now have to face up to missing out on his signature to the likes of Juventus, who are also eyeing moves for his teammates Danilo and Argentina international Nicolas Otamendi.
Fernando has previously won four league titles and one Europa League and is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the Portuguese league.
Juventus have already sent their technical director,Fabio Paratici, to monitor the Brazilian and his colleagues by watching their Champions League group clash with Austria Vienna last week.
Fernando joined Porto back in 2007 from Brazilian minnows Vila Nova, but was loaned out for a year to Estrela Amadora in order to gain experience.