Exclusive: New twist in Everton bid to sign centre-back after multi-million PL offer
Everton are facing an uphill battle to sign Fikayo Tomori after being told by Chelsea he may be headed to a different club, Football Insider can reveal.
The Merseysiders have offered to pay a multi-million pound loan fee to take the England international on a season-long loan.
An Everton source has told Football Insider that their hopes of landing Tomori are receding as Rennes look to land him in part-exchange for Edouard Mendy.
The Ligue 1 outfit have made a last-minute request for two Chelsea senior stars joining on loan this season in exchange for Mendy.
The goalkeeper, 28, has agreed to join the Londoners for around £20million and finalised the terms of a contract.
But the deal is being held up while the French club try to negotiate a couple of blue-chip arrivals.
That could mean transfer heartache for Everton, who are in the market for a fourth senior centre-back after losing Mason Holgate until potentially the end of October due to a toe injury.
This site revealed earlier this week that Everton have turned their attention to centre-back Gleison Bremer as an alternative to Tomori.
The Brazilian, 23, has three years remaining on his Torino contract and is open to a move to the Premier League.
Tomori, 22, is on the radar of the Merseysiders after falling out of favour under Frank Lampard last season.
Carlo Ancelotti pair Michael Keane and Yerry Mina at centre-back for Saturday's 1-0 win over Tottenham in the absence of the injured Mason Holgate.