Everton Director of Football Marcel Brands can land Carlo Ancelotti an offensive gem in AFC Bournemouth’s Joshua King, should the Toffees submit an appropriate offer ahead of next Friday’s domestic Deadline Day.

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic, via Inside Futbol, Everton are one of several Premier League clubs considering a late swoop into the Championship to acquire King following Bournemouth’s relegation last season.

Top-flight clubs can still do business with EFL sides until 17:00 on October 16th, despite the international market closing last Monday.

King struck six goals and penned four assists in 26 Premier League appearances under Eddie Howe as the south coast side were relegated last season, making the Norway international one of the most desired forwards still available for a late summer transfer.

Everton could face competition from Aston Villa, West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion plus newly-promoted Fulham in any attempt to land King, who is said to be chasing a £90,000-per-week contract – similar to his terms at the Vitality Stadium – which has led the Baggies to hold back on lodging a formal bid.

West Ham have already held talks with King and his representatives over a potential move to the London Stadium, with Bournemouth open to cashing in for around £10million.

King is not said to be in a rush to secure a move away from Bournemouth and is willing to hold out until January, at which point he will have just six-months remaining on his contract, so he'll be able sign a pre-agreement with an international side ahead of a free transfer.

The 28-year-old missed the start of the new Championship season through an injury sustained on international duty last month, but returned to make his campaign debut under new manager Jason Tindall as a second half substitute against Norwich City.

Everton’s interest in a late move for King has been downplayed however, by the Liverpool Echo.

A potential gem

While King is expected to request a lucrative contract should he leave Bournemouth this week, Brands could land Ancelotti a real offensive gem in the former Manchester United trainee.

Along with his involvement in ten goals in the league last season, King created a further four big chances and spurned three of his own, all whilst recording an average of 1.2 key balls and 0.8 shots a game, per SofaScore.

The Oslo-born forward also made an average of 2.0 successful dribbles a game, while winning 5.9 duels from 3.7 ground battles and 2.3 aerial contests. He was fouled 1.0 times and won possession 0.8 times – something Ancelotti could tap into and set Everton up to defend from the front to prevent sides from breaking quickly.

Of Everton’s forwards and midfielders who featured in the Premier League last season, only Richarlison (5.58) and Jean-Phillipe Gbamin (4.0) won a higher number of average ground duels a game than King, while only Dominic Calvert-Lewin (5.0) won a higher number of aerial contests.

AND in other news, an outcast of Carlo Ancelotti’s plans is unlikely to win the Everton boss over despite his Deadline Day decision.