Marcel Brands must sign rumoured Everton target Moises Caicedo in the January transfer window after Manchester United’s interest was questioned.

What’s the word?

According to Extra, Independiente del Valle chiefs are continuing to negotiate the exit of Caicedo in the mid-season market after Everton entered the race to sign the 19-year-old.

Manchester United were expected to complete a deal to lure Caicedo to the Premier League but are no longer seen to be leading the charge, now featuring an MLS franchise believed to be Atlanta United.

Independiente are waiting to see who presents the best offer for Caicedo before sanctioning his move, but hope to have reached an agreement to sell the rising Ecuador talent by the end of the week.

It was understood Independiente would sell Caicedo for €6m (£5.5m) in the January window during discussions with Manchester United, while receiving a proposal from West Ham, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seeing the midfielder as an ideal box-to-box addition through his high-energy and aggressive style of play.

The Red Devils are still touted to be following Caicedo’s situation by Sky Sports and TuttoMercatoWEB, who claim the teenager has committed himself to the Old Trafford outfit after agreeing to sign a five-year contract once a work permit is obtained.

Bye-bye Davies

Everton’s Director of Football Brands must step in and push through negotiations with Independiente to ensure Caicedo opts for a move to Goodison Park in the mid-season window, as the four-time Ecuador international would be the ideal holding midfielder for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Caicedo is considered the real deal despite only playing 31 senior games following his Independiente debut in October 2019, having scored six goals and providing two assists from a deep-lying or central midfield position.

South American football expert Tim Vickery is a vivid advocate of Caicedo’s potential, and considers the sought-after gem to offer more than his idol N’Golo Kante.

"We have just lost Colin Bell, and I am not saying he is as good as Bell, but Moises Caicedo is in that kind of mould. He is a terrific athlete who makes football look easy,” Vickery told Sky Sports.

"A year ago, he was saying that Kante of Chelsea is his role model, but he is already more than that. He already offers more in the final third. That kind of box-to-box midfielder that's very much in the tradition of the England game. Strong, quick, intelligent and cool. He really does look like the genuine article."

Caicedo would appear to be a vast upgrade in terms of potential to Tom Davies, who has enjoyed mixed success since standing in for Allan over the festive period whilst the Brazilian has been out injured.

Davies has also seen his long-term future at Goodison Park questioned with Ancelotti keen to improve his options in the engine room, so would likely find himself placed on the Italian’s transfer list if Brands is able to secure Caicedo’s services this month.

AND in other news, Everton can reach a new level by signing a “complete” £31.5m-rated maestro in January.