Everton are set to receive a bid from Stoke City after holding negotiations over a transfer deal for defender Ashley Williams, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper claim on their website that the Toffees have been engaged in talks with the Potters over a possible deal for the Welsh international, with manager Marco Silva happy to let him depart Goodison Park.
It is stated that Williams himself is also content with leaving and dropping into the Championship, although there is said to be some issue over his £65,000-a-week wages, with Stoke hoping that they can convince Everton to pay part of them after leaving.
Good move for Everton?
Williams is one of the most experienced members of the Everton squad but considering that the Toffees have an ageing back line, it should come as no surprise Silva is happy for him to leave.
He will obviously not be playing first team football were he to stay and it makes sense for the good of his career that he moves on, even if that is into the Championship.
A man of his talents should thrive in the second tier, while Everton can get at least some of his wages off the books to clear room for potential new arrivals.
Still, the Toffees have to make sure a deal is still in their best interests, for there is no point in accepting a move which will weaken them without the right amount of financial benefit.
This is Futbol rating: 7.5/10
Likely to happen?
It seems as though things have advanced quickly between the two north west sides and it appears that a transfer fee and some agreement on his wages are all that are stopping the move from going through.
Williams is happy, Silva is happy, and Stoke will be happy if the deal is done – a win-win-win scenario.
This is Futbol rating: 8.5/10