According to ESPN FC, Tottenham Hotspur have joined Premier League rivals Leicester City and West Ham United in the race to sign giant 6ft 5in tall West Bromwich Albion defender Ahmed Hegazi, and Everton must also look to target the in-demand 27-year-old.

What's the word, then?

Well, ESPN FC report that Spurs are targeting a move for the Egypt international, who the Baggies face a real fight to keep hold of following their relegation to the Championship.

ESPN FC says that the north London club view the centre-back as a possible replacement for Toby Alderweireld, with doubts over his future and whether he will still be with them next season.

The report adds that Mauricio Pochettino's men will face competition from Leicester and West Ham if they do try and get Hegazi, who doesn’t have a release clause of £2.5m in his contract as per a previous report in The Sun.

Meanwhile Everton, whose new DOF Marcel Brands can become an instant hero if he finds agreement with 20-year-old attacker, will surely be targeting a new centre-back this summer with Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka getting no younger, and Ramiro Funes Mori's future at Goodison Park likely to be in doubt.

How did Hegazi do this season?

While West Brom suffered the disappointment of relegation, the 27-year-old impressed and established himself as one of the best out-and-out defenders in the Premier League in what was his debut campaign in England.

The Egyptian centre-back showed he is strong and decent in the air, while he is prepared to put his body on the line for his team – as shown by the fact he and Craig Dawson were picked ahead of captain Jonny Evans in the closing weeks of the season.

Meanwhile, he also showed how reliable he can be by featuring in all 38 of their Premier League matches, and only coming 33 minutes away from playing the entirety of their campaign.

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Would he be a good signing for Everton?

He certainly would be, and he could be the perfect dominant partner for Michael Keane at the heart of the defence.

Former Everton director of football Steve Walsh played a big role in bringing the former Burnley man to Goodison Park, but it was something of a rollercoaster campaign for the England international as he struggled for form and consistency.

Bringing in Hegazi alongside him would certainly help him to improve, and the fact that the Egypt international is a strong character would mean that he make a really big impression on his 25-year-old teammate and the defence in general.