Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have held talks over a deal for Harry Winks.
The ECHO understands that Frank Lampard has identified the England international as a player who can bolster his midfield options heading into the new season. Midfield is an area that Lampard has long been keen to strengthen this summer.
Talks between the two clubs are understood to be at an early stage, but there is a hope from all three parties that a deal can be done. Everton have already agreed a deal with James Tarkowski for when his Burnley contract expires at the end of this month.
OPINION: Insulted Everton should point to Jack Grealish for fair Richarlison transfer fee
CHRIS BEESLEY: Everton have just made the ideal academy appointment
Winks would favour a move to Goodison Park and is keen to return to playing regular first-team football after being frozen out by Antonio Conte at White Hart Lane last season. The midfielder made just 19 Premier League appearances during the 2021/22 campaign, starting in just nine of those games.
But as well as attracting interest from the Blues, Winks is also being eyed by at least three other top-flight clubs. Winks still has two-years remaining on his Spurs contract, but the North London club would not stand in his way should the right offer be made.
Blues boss Lampard, and director of football Kevin Thelwell, will be at the helm of the club’s recruitment policy this summer, and meetings between the pair have taken place since before the end of last season over what strategy the club will take over the course of the next few weeks.
Speaking on the need for new additions last month, Lampard explained how he wants to improve his side’s work on the ball this summer - and that he felt it could be achieved through a number of transfers across the window.
He said: "To improve, in a lot of ways. We want to play, the way we've played in the last month was fantastic but it's been a certain type of football. We've played a lot of big teams who have had more possession.
"We want to look at how we can be a little bit better in possession. Some of that will be the squad and recruitment, others will be how we work in pre-season.
"You're always starting to think about those things, you can never stand still or relax in this game. There's reasons we are where we are and there's reasons we just about stayed up. It's very important that after that break we get to work.”
READ NEXT:
