According to reliable Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Everton's hopes of signing Inter Milan midielder Matias Vecino could be over with the club and manager Antonio Conte keen to keep him at the San Siro.

What's the word, then?

Well, the Toffees have been heavily linked with a move for the Uruguay international this month, with Italian journalist Nicolo Schira reporting on Twitter last week that they were in talks to bring the 28-year-old to Goodison Park.

However, it now appears according to Di Marzio that the Serie A giants and former Chelsea boss Conte want to keep him until the end of the season at least instead, in the hope he can make an important contribution for them on the pitch.

Not a disaster

While it might be a blow for Everton supporters that the chances of them bringing in Vecino before the window slams shut appear to be diminishing, it might not actually be awful news.

Indeed, Carlo Ancelotti has really turned the Merseyside outfit's fortunes around since being appointed as Marco Silva's successor last month, losing just two matches in all competitions against Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup, and Manchester City in the Premier League.

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While the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Morgan Schneiderlin have struggled at times in the middle of the park - and against their arch-rivals especially - the Italian still has the duo as well as Tom Davies and Fabian Delph to select from in central midfield.

Of course, the Toffees have also been boosted by the return of Andre Gomes to first-team training on Tuesday, and perhaps the Portugal international could be back in action soon.

A move for Vecino then isn't perhaps that urgent any longer this month.

In other Everton news, this Liverpool Echo report has left many Toffees fans ecstatic...