Everton are lining up a summer move for Atalanta defender Gianluca Mancini, according to the Mirror.
The newspaper report that the Toffees have been closely monitoring the 22-year-old centre-back and will continue to do so until the end of the season, when he is due to make a decision on his future.
The Mirror claim that the Serie A side are keen for Mancini to sign an extension on his current contract, which runs until 2023, but several teams are now lurking with Inter Milan and Roma also in the hunt.
Good move for Everton?
Yes.
Mancini is a talented young player who has begun to impress in Serie A this season with 14 appearances for Atalanta, who currently sit in eighth.
The 22-year-old enforcer is beginning to attract the attention of some big clubs with his form, and looks like he could well go on to have a career at the very top level.
Considering the calibre of defenders that regularly emerge from Italy, snapping up Mancini at such a young age could be a masterstroke from Everton if they manage to pull it off.
This is Futbol rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
It looks like Everton are putting themselves in a good position to sign Mancini, but competition from the top Serie A clubs could be an issue.
Mancini may want to remain in Italy and play for one of the big clubs there, which would scupper any hopes that Everton have of signing him.
Ultimately it comes down to the player himself, and Everton will just have to wait and see what happens in the summer.
This is Futbol rating: 3/10