Everton are making a serious push to sign Juventus centre-back Federico Gatti ahead of the 2026/27 season, and they currently lead the race for the €25 million-rated defender. While Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are also monitoring the Italian international, the Toffees appear most determined to bring him to Goodison Park.

The 27-year-old has fallen out of favour at Juventus since Luciano Spalletti took charge, with the manager preferring a defensive setup built around Pierre Kalulu, Gleison Bremer, and Lloyd Kelly. This shift in the pecking order has left Gatti on the sidelines, and his luck hasn't improved. A broken fibula earlier this year stalled his momentum, and he hasn't played a full 90 minutes in Serie A since late February.

Gatti's rise to prominence is the stuff of football folklore—a late bloomer who was working as a bricklayer before his career finally took off. He brings plenty of physical presence, aerial dominance, and genuine grit in one-on-one battles, plus he's comfortable playing out from the back. However, he's not without his flaws. Gatti can be exposed by pacey attackers, and his disciplinary record—including a 13-yellow-card season at Frosinone—shows he can be reckless under pressure.

Juventus have set a €25 million price tag for the defender. Everton have already had one bid rejected but are reportedly preparing a fresh offer after tracking him for months, according to Tuttosport via Sport Witness. While Palace and Villa view Gatti as a solid squad addition, their interest doesn't seem as advanced as Everton's.

Everton desperately need a player of Gatti's profile, but they must approach this deal wisely. With Jarrad Branthwaite constantly sidelined by injuries, David Moyes has been forced to rely on James Tarkowski and Michael Keane as his primary options. Gatti could provide the physicality and reliability the Toffees have been missing at the back—if they can get the deal over the line and keep him fit.