Report: Everton hijack Aston Villa move for 24-goal striker, Koeman opens talks
By Alex Taylor
Everton are eyeing a move for Aston Villa target Sebastien Haller after opening talks with the France Under-21 international, according to reports.
The Daily Mail, claim that the Toffees are readying a move for the 22-year-old Frenchman as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2016-17 Premier League season.
The report says Haller was the subject of failed bids from Norwich and Swansea in January and has been monitored by Ajax, Tottenham, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace over the past season.
The forward has scored 24 goals and provided six assists in 42 games in all competitions this season in the Eredivisie for F.C Utrecht.
The Merseyside outfit are yet to spend big in the current transfer window and it is believed that securing the long-term future of star striker Romelu Lukaku has become a key priority, ahead of potential additions.
Everton have sealed a deal for former Fulham keeper Maarten Stekelenburg though, after losing Tim Howard to the Colorado Rapids in June.
Koeman is currently preparing to fly his team to Austria next week for a preseason training camp ahead of the new Premier League season.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are set to outbid Chelsea in an attempt to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.