Everton have been heavily linked with a move for Maxwel Cornet this summer, and a new update has emerged from a reliable source which is likely to put a dampener on the club's transfer plans.

What's the latest?

According to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, the Burnley winger is set to join West Ham United after a bid was accepted.

Sheth tweeted on Thursday afternoon: "West Ham United have agreed a deal with Burnley for the signing of Mawel Cornet. West Ham have met £17.5m release clause. Cornet travelling to London tonight for a medical. #Cornet #WHUFC"

He would've been fabulous

It was reported that Everton were in talks with the Lancashire club to try and secure a deal for the forward, but with the news that he is instead set to join the Hammers, Frank Lampard will surely be scrambling ahead of the Toffees' return to Premier League action this weekend to find another forward to join the squad at Goodison Park.

The desperation for reinforcements in Everton's forward line was a pressing issue from the very start of the transfer window after they struggled in a relegation battle throughout last season, conceding 23 more goals than they scored.

However, the urgency to improve the attacking threat in the team heightened massively when last term's top scorer Richarlison completed a move to Tottenham Hotspur, and a further blow has since been dealt as Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be missing for around six weeks following a knee injury.

There is no doubt that Cornet, who was dubbed "fabulous" by Owen Hargreaves, would've been a great signing for Everton and could have been the solution to a number of the issues the Toffees are facing.

The Ivorian gem can play in a diverse range of positions, comfortable across the entire front three as well as in left midfield and at left-back, which would be a hugely valuable asset to Lampard if the injury problems of last season continue into the new campaign.

Cornet also offers a keen attacking threat, scoring nine goals, delivering one assist and creating two big chances, along with taking 1.8 shots per game as he finished his debut season in English football as Burnley's top scorer, again qualities that the former Chelsea boss would surely love to add to his team right now.

Everton have been linked with several alternative forwards over the transfer window so far, with Alassane Plea, Armando Broja and Adama Traore all named as rumoured targets who could become the next signing for the Merseysiders, but nothing has advanced with any of these players as of yet.

Although the club have agreed a fee to sign Amadou Onana, who is due to have a medical on Merseyside today (Alan Myers), Kevin Thelwell must work fast to identify a Cornet alternative to ensure that Lampard has the players he needs in order to deploy a team which can stop Everton from suffering a similar fate as last season, or worse still, being relegated from the Premier League next year.