After Everton's FA Cup Third Round defeat at the hands of Leicester, Ronald Koeman demanded in his post-match comments that the club make some signings in January.

After the game he said:

"I know what is needed to change,

"If everybody opened his eyes maybe we will get further in our improvement - because that is what this team needs."

And it seems as if Koeman has got his wish with the news that Morgan Schneiderlin is close to signing for the Toffees in a deal worth upwards of £20m.

The France international's name has repeatedly cropped up as a potential transfer for Everton in January and the Merseysiders have seemingly got their man after the fee was agreed between themselves and his current club Manchester United.

Britain Football Soccer - Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League - Old Trafford - 19/11/16 Manchester United's Wayne Rooney talks to Manchester United's Morgan Schneiderlin at the end of the match Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publication

Everton seem to have suffered disappointment in trying to land Schneiderlin's soon to be former team-mate Memphis Depay, though. Although the Dutchman is struggling to get first-team football at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho is not prepared to let the former PSV Eindhoven midfielder go out on loan this month.

But that set-back has not deterred the Toffees in their hunt for new personnel and with a return to Old Trafford, they are now set to add Schneiderlin to their ranks. With the 27-year-old making the short move from Manchester to Merseyside it means the Red Devils will not quite get recoup the £25m they paid Southampton back in 2015.

A failed signing from the Louis van Gaal era, Koeman seems ready to put a lot of trust in him. The move to Everton will mean that player and manager once will again link up after their time together at Southampton. These two may have only worked together for a season, but it was Schneiderlin's performances in that time that not only led the Saints to a Europa League place but also attracted Manchester United.

Football - Hull City v Southampton - Barclays Premier League - The Kingston Communications Stadium - 1/11/14
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman celebrates at the end of the game with Morgan Schneiderlin
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With Ademola Lookman also joining the club, it seems as if the transfer funds that have been promised by majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri are finally starting to be spent. Although from Koeman's and Everton fans' point of view it will be a shame that it has taken a cup exit to kick them into gear.

But the signing of Schneiderlin is certainly one that should be heralded as exciting and the hope will be that he shows the form that earned him that move to Old Trafford in the first place. With regular first-team football, you would imagine that is a realistic prospect and Everton will soon reap the rewards.

And with two new signings under Everton's belt, the question you have to ask now is whether this is the last bit of transfer business we see at Goodison Park this month, or will there be more new faces?

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