Everton are reportedly ready to move in for a top European talent and await the results of his potential exit talks with his club.

What’s the latest?

That's according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who detailed in his latest Caught Offside column the Toffees' transfer plans in their pursuit of Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma.

He noted that the Dutchman is keen on a return to the Premier League and has duly begun discussing the possibility with his current employers. Frank Lampard is said to be heavily interested in the 25-year-old, but Everton face competition from numerous other clubs and it remains "an open race".

It is also believed that the Netherlands forward holds a €54m (£45m) release clause, which could prove a further stumbling block for the financially hamstrung Blues.

He's a "wildcard"

In their time of need, Everton are crying out for some much-needed creativity and goal threat. In a swoop for Danjuma, they could increase both of those substantially.

Last season saw them narrowly avoid the drop as they relied heavily on the heroic exploits of Richarlison to dig them out of the mire. He scored ten league goals, double his nearest competitor within the squad.

This time around, there are few within Lampard's squad who seem capable of doing the same, as a reliable goalscorer appears to be in short supply at Goodison Park.

With Demarai Gray, Anthony Gordon and Dwight McNeil - the only Everton players to have scored more than once in the current league campaign - all yet to surpass three goals, none of them seem to be the potential catalyst for ensuring top-flight safety.

As such, Lampard and Kevin Thelwell must seek out another maverick goalscoring presence on whom they can rely.

It just so happens that Danjuma himself was labelled as having "wildcard status" by his former coach Edward Still, who went on to praise the 25-year-old by stating: "He’s a player who can make something happen. You weren’t always sure when and how but he had that match-winning ability, which you felt pretty quickly in training."

This is outlined in the Dutchman's recent goal tallies, as he boasts six goals already this season, having notched 20 goal contributions in his debut campaign with Villarreal in 2021/22.

Having scored just 14 times in 18 Premier League games this term, there is a clear reason why Everton sit in the relegation zone at present.

Signing Danjuma would potentially go a long way towards helping escape those troubles, adding firepower a level beyond anything already at the club. They desperately need something to stop the rot, and with no significant transfer activity to report nearly halfway through the month, things are looking bleak for Evertonians.