Sources: Real Madrid make move to sign Everton player who was at Villa last night
By Wayne Veysey
Real Madrid have made a move to sign Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, Football Insider understands.
The Spanish giants have shortlisted the former Holland number one, 36, as a target as they face the prospect of Keylor Navas moving to Paris Saint-Germain.
An Everton source has told Football Insider that Real have contacted Stekelenburg's camp about his interest in a shock transfer to Madrid before the Spanish window shuts at the end of this month.
The Dutchman is not Real's first choice to replace Navas, who is the current deputy to Thibaut Courtois, but he is regarded as an alternative if they cannot secure other targets including ex-Liverpool ace Pepe Reina.
Stekelenburg was pushed down to third in the keeper pecking order at Everton this season after Jonas Lössl was signed from Huddersfield to be the new number two to Jordan Pickford.
Lossl was on the bench for the Toffees' opening two league matches of the campaign, but was not in the squad for last night's 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa.
Stekelenburg was in the matchday squad at Villa Park as Everton lost their first match of the campaign due to goals from Wesley and Anwar El Ghazi.
The giant keeper has made just 26 appearances for Everton since signing in 2016, but has extensive experience at the top level for Ajax, Roma, Southampton. Fulham and Monaco.
Stekelenburg has also accumulated 58 caps for the Holland national team and was their first choice at the 2010 World Cup.