Everton are hoping to sign Ajax skipper Davy Klaassen within the next 10 days in a deal that is set to cost £20million, according to a Mirror report.
The newspaper claims Toffees manager Ronald Koeman has made Klaassen, 24, a priority transfer target, and has scouted him in the past.
It is said if the Dutch central midfielder arrives at Goodison this summer, Ross Barkley’s future will be plunged into even more doubt, as his contract dispute rolls on.
Klaassen was one of Ajax’s top performers last term, scoring 20 goals in 50 league and cup games, as well as providing 12 assists.
The Dutchman was a mainstay in the side who reached the final of the Europa League as well, playing 13 games in this season’s competition.
He broke into the club’s first team in the summer of 2012, and he has since made 180 appearances in all competitions, which have yielded 55 goals and 38 assists.
The 24-year-old was utilised in a number of positions by Ajax manager Peter Bosz last term, and he played as a defensive midfielder, as a box-to-box midfielder and even as a attacking midfielder.
Klaassen has been capped 14 times by the Netherlands, and has scored four goals, one of which came in the 5-0 friendly win over Ivory Coast in April of this year.