Everton are hoping to wrap up the signing of Davy Klaassen from Ajax in the coming weeks, reports the Daily Telegraph.
The Dutch midfielder is a long standing target for Toffees boss Ronald Koeman, though the 24-year-old will set the club back £26m.
Koeman is determined to add another goalscoring creative midfielder to his ranks and Klaassen fits the bill having netted 14 goals and registered another nine assists in the Eredivisie last season.
Indeed, no midfielder was directly involved in more goals (23) than the Netherlands international in the top tier of Dutch football last term.
Davy Klaassen: No midfielder was directly involved in more goals than Klaassen (23 - 14 goals, 9 assists) in the Eredivisie last season pic.twitter.com/wnmygiN5b0
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) June 11, 2017
His potential arrival, though, plunges Ross Barkley’s future on Merseyside into further doubt, with many suggesting than Klaassen’s arrival would push the England international towards the Goodison Park exit.
Barkley has rejected Everton’s contract offers and with just one year left to run on his current deal, the Toffees would rather cash in on the Tottenham and Manchester United target rather than lose him on a free next year.
However, Everton value Barkley at £50m, which could price any potential suitors out of a move for the 23-year-old.
