Everton are plotting a bid for Udinese’s Brazilian centre-back Rodrigo Becao.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Sky Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, who wrote on his website that negotiations between the two clubs are underway.

There is said to still be distance between the two sides, but things are progressing slowly.

It was reported back in mid-June that the Toffees were interested alongside Tottenham Hotspur, but it appears that the former has now stepped up their pursuit and could land their man. 

Previous reports suggest he could cost in the region of €20m (£17m).

He could be Mina 2.0

Everton’s Yerry Mina has impressed when he has been available, but those moments have been too inconsistent to make him a reliable force at the back for the Blues.

It could therefore make this signing all the more intelligent, as they replace one hulking defender with another.

Standing at 6 foot 2, the defender was ever-present at the back for Udinese last season. He featured in 35 league games this season, which immediately makes him more useful than Mina, who only managed a measly 13 appearances.

Throughout these outings, he boasted a sold 6.83 average SofaScore rating. He is a defender who first and foremost loves to defend and operates well in a back three due to a lack of speed.

This could therefore be a tactical signing by Frank Lampard, who often tried to make a 3-5-2 formation work at the back end of last season.

The stats also back up this love for defending, as he ranked third in tackles made in the whole of the Seria A, ranking in the 96th percentile for tackles and 93rd percentile for pressures per 90.

Brazilian journalist Bruno Queiroz only needed one word to describe the defender: “insurmountable”. Everton have lacked a character such as this, who can perform consistently and not add to their ever-growing list of hospital cases.

In signing the 26-year-old Brazilian, who is younger and clearly fit more often, the Toffees can find a potential Mina upgrade who could have the same effect when he plays, but actually be fit enough to play often.

AND, in other news: Thelwell plotting bid for “massive” £13m Everton target, just imagine him & Gallagher.