Former Everton-linked forward Arnaut Danjuma has the chance to leave La Liga side Villarreal this January, according to various reports.
The Dutch international, who previously enjoyed a fine spell in English football with Bournemouth between 2019 and 2021, had previously been linked with a move to Merseyside, with both Goodison Park and Anfield gossiped to be possible destinations.
However, after just shy of 18 months on the south coast of Spain with last season's Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal, Danjuma could depart La Liga this month as he hopes to earn more playing time in the second half of the season after being snubbed by Louis Van Gaal for a place in Holland's 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup.
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According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Villarreal will now listen to offers for the attacker and Everton could be in the race for his signature as Frank Lampard looks to solve the Blues' troubles in front of goal with a handful of mid-season additions.
"Danjuma has a chance to leave already in January," tweeted Romano. "Villarreal will now listen to offers but no rush as Danjuma is a valued asset
"[The] player's representatives are in talks with clubs across Europe whilst future is being considered. More than one club keen on signing him."
In addition to Romano's report, Spanish publication Cadena Ser claim that Everton are in talks with the La Liga outfit over a potential loan move for Danjuma this month, which would see the Toffees hold an option to buy the 25-year-old at the end of the season.
Everton, who occupy 18th place in the Premier League table, are the division's fifth-lowest goalscorers and have struggled to reproduce the output of the Richarlison - who swapped Goodison Park for Tottenham Hotspur last summer - and Dominic Calvert-Lewin who continues to be plagued by a string of unfortunate fitness issues.
Earlier this month the Blues made use of a recall option in Ellis Simms' loan deal at Sunderland, with the forward's time in the North East cut short. Meanwhile, fellow academy graduate Tom Cannon - who made his Premier League debut earlier this season - completed a switch to Championship outfit Preston North End for the remainder of the season on Tuesday.
Nathan Broadhead also departed Goodison Park this week, this time on a permanent deal as he joined League One outfit Ipswich Town.
Elsewhere at Goodison Park, Anthony Gordon has struggled to recapture his early season form as he boasts just three goals in all competitions for the Blues and has often played his best football on the left of the attack. The Blues' troubles in the final third are perhaps best encapsulated by the fact fellow wide man Demarai Gray is the club's top goalscorer in all competitions this term, with just five strikes in 21 games.
Southampton, who have propped up the Premier League table for much of the campaign so far, travel to Goodison Park on Saturday with the pressure intensifying ten-fold on both managers, Lampard and Nathan Jones, in recent weeks.
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