Ronald Koeman is hoping that his special relationship with Virgil van Dijk can set up a Goodison Park reunion.
According to a report in The Mirror the Everton boss is confident that he can get his fellow Dutchman to turn his back on Champions League football to play a part in his ‘interesting project’.
Despite Southampton putting a £60m price tag on van Dijk both of the Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Paris St Germain are all expected to put in January bids.
Everton can match the transfer fees on offer and give the defender a £200,000/week contract but have almost no chance of playing in next season’s Champions League.
Van Dijk played in the Champions League for Celtic and seems certain to move on to a club that can meet his football ambitions as well as his financial demands.
Koeman is hoping that the new deal to keep Romelu Lukaku at Goodison demonstrates to van Dijk and other transfer targets that Everton are serious about their ambitions.