Sources: Everton set sights on signing Lingard in January as plan revealed to evade FFP
Everton have set their sights on a January deal for Man United star Jesse Lingard in January, Football Insider has learned.
The Merseysiders will be in the market for an attacking midfielder capable of scoring goals and slotting straight into Rafael Benitez's side.
An Everton source has told Football Insider that Lingard is on the club's target list and Benitez is a big admirer of him.
The Merseysiders are planning to explore a loan-to-buy deal in which Lingard joins on an initial loan that is converted into a permanent deal at the end of the season.
Everton are targeting Lingard as they look to secure a replacement for Gylfi Sigurdsson, who will be let go at the end of the season.
But Benitez will not have a major transfer kitty in January, when, as revealed by Football Insider last week, he will once again have to prioritise free transfers and loans.
For Everton, Lingard fits the bill in terms of player profile and also potential availability.
Man United have tried to increase the market value of the England international by offering him a new contract but it has been rejected, as revealed by BBC Sport.
Lingard's current agreement expires next summer, by which time he will be 29.
West Ham were among the clubs who tabled offers for Lingard over the summer but United's £30million asking price put them off.
He had hoped to re-establish himself as a key man at United after his goal-laden Irons loan last term but has not started a Premier League or Champions League match this season.
Lingard has had only 146 minutes of action across all competitions despite scoring two Premier League goals as a substitute.
Everton signed five players during the summer but paid only one fee, a cut-price £1.7million for Demarai Gray.