Everton have made a late attempt to ambush Crystal Palace’s bid to sign Ajax defender Jairo Riedewald this summer, according to the Mail.
But the newspaper claim that the cash-rich Merseysiders’ hijack of the Holland international’s potential transfer to Frank de Boer’s team has come too late.
The Mail report that Riedewald, 20, is set to keep his promise to link up with Dutch countryman De Boer and complete an £8.7million transfer to Palace.
The highly rated young centre-back is said to be attracted by the possibility of more game time at Selhurst Park than the other clubs coveting his signature, who include Tottenham and Newcastle as well as Everton.
Riedewald has already accumulated three Holland caps and has made 93 Ajax first-team appearances after graduating from their famous academy.
In addition to playing at centre-back, he can also slot in at left-back and the midfield anchorman role.
He made 32 appearances for the Europa League runners-up last season spread across 2417 minutes of action but he was a substitute for much of their league campaign.
Everton have already signed six senior players this summer, including Riedewald’s former teammate Davy Klaassen for a fee of £24million.
Reports on Wednesday suggested the Toffees are about to seal a seventh new arrival in right-back Cuco Martina.