Everton had a slow start to the summer transfer window but have now signed three new players to strengthen the squad at Goodison Park, and a reliable source has revealed a potential new target for the Toffees.

What's the latest?

According to Everton insider and journalist Alan Myers, the Merseyside club are now interested in signing Conor Coady this summer.

Myers tweeted: "Everton want to sign Wolves defender Conor Coady. Frank Lampard is an admirer of the experienced centre-back, who’s been at Wolves for 7 years."

Imagine him & Tarkowski

It is no secret that Everton struggled last term as they were embroiled in a relegation scrap at the bottom of the Premier League table until the penultimate game of the season, so it comes as no surprise that Frank Lampard is keen to strengthen his squad, especially in defence.

In March, Jamie Carragher gave a scathing assessment on Sky Sports of what he believed to be a huge problem for the Toffees following their humiliating 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

The pundit raged: "If Everton aren't going to be good enough, it can be quality and they're not. That back four is miles away, it's Championship level."

The Toffees' poor defensive performances ultimately led to them conceding the fifth most goals (66) in the Premier League last term, and after signing James Tarkowski from Burnley last month, they could now strengthen their defence even further to ensure that they don't repeat the mistakes of the past.

Coady, who was dubbed "phenomenal" by former team-mate Dave Edwards, has been a reliable and solid performer for Wolverhampton Wanderers, earning the captaincy at the club with his sound leadership which has led to inclusion in the England team.

Over 38 appearances last season, the £62k-per-week titan scored four goals, made 3.7 clearances per game and won the majority of his duels (53%), becoming one of the standout performers in the division.

The Wolves captain ranked second for successful dribbles, third in conversion of big chances and fourth for blocked shots in the entire top flight.

There is no doubt that Lampard could form the perfect centre-back partnership between Tarkowski and Coady if Everton can secure a deal for the Wolves skipper before the transfer window shuts, as the pair are both renowned for their leadership skills and are both proven defenders who have been important players for the teams they have represented.

Both Englishmen are capable of playing either side in the centre-back role, which will again be very useful to Lampard if he can get them together at Goodison Park, as the strength and experience of the pair combined could help Everton to seriously improve over the course of this season.

The signing of Coady would be a huge coup for the Toffees and would put Lampard in a great position to deploy a defence that he can trust to compete and contribute in their efforts to retain their Premier League status more comfortably this time around.