EVERTON have been linked with a shock bid for Manchester United pair Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee ahead of the January transfer window.
According to The I Paper, the Toffees are expected to make “two or three” additions during the winter market but players’ prices will be a major factor in their transfer business.
That is why they will avoid pricy options and will instead focus on potential loan deals, like they did with Jack Grealish who joined from Manchester City in the summer.
The Merseysiders have thus been linked with an audacious swoop for Mainoo, 20, and Zirkzee, 24, whom they would want to have until the end of the season.
But both bids would be complex and expensive, while United are undecided about whether to let either one of them go.
Mainoo has struggled for minutes under manager Ruben Amorim despite many fans’ calls for the midfielder to become part of the starting line-up.
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Man Utd legend Paul Scholes has been especially critical of Amorim’s decision to repeatedly omit the England international.
Zirkzee, on the other hand, has fallen down the pecking order at centre-forward.
Everton have also been linked with Al-Ahli star Ivan Toney, who would dramatically raise his hopes of an England call-up ahead of the 2026 World Cup if he returned to the Premier League.
But club sources at Hill Dickinson Stadium have played down those rumours.
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The same report claims Grealish is keen to turn his loan move into a permanent deal.
The winger has amassed two goals and four assists in 16 Premier League appearances with Everton and has earned adoration from the fans.
And Everton could use the England international’s successful transition as a sales pitch to attract other high-profile names.