Italian media outlet Corriere dello Sport, via AreaNapoli, has suggested Everton as a potential summer destination for out-of-favour Napoli attacker Hirving Lozano, a player director of football Marcel Brands refused to sign in 2018.

What's the word, then?

Well, Corriere dello Sport, via AreaNapoli, has reported that the Mexico international's future could be in doubt as he has found first-team minutes hard to come by under Gennaro Gattuso following Carlo Ancelotti's exit – indeed, he has only played 47 minutes across the club's previous five Serie A fixtures.

The report suggests that having paid €49m for him in the summer, Napoli aren't currently getting good value for the money given he is currently settling for short cameos from the substitutes' bench.

Corriere dello Sport adds that they see Everton as a potential club who could allow the Naples-based outfit to get most of their money back should they cash in on him this summer.

Could it happen?

It seems unlikely, given what Brands said about the 24-year-old back in 2018.

In the lead up to the 2019 January transfer window, the Dutchman was asked about the possibility of signing Lozano, but his stance was pretty clear.

He told Voetbal International, via Sport Witness and as translated by The Liverpool Echo: "Of course Lozano and Bergwijn are interesting players, but €30m for Hirving and €20m for Steven, we will not pay that.

"We have indeed paid a lot of money for Richarlison, but he is 21 years old and has already shown it in the Premier League.

"He is likely to deliver double (that amount if sold). I do not know yet with Lozano and Bergwijn.

"If Lozano would cost €20m, I would consider it, but at higher amounts we look at players who have already proven it in the Premier League or in another big league."

Call yourself an Everton expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

That final comment from Brands is probably the most telling.

Despite scoring 40 goals and providing a further 23 assists in 79 matches for PSV Eindhoven previously, he has failed to translate that form over to Napoli.

So far this term he has three goals and two assists in 22 outings for the Italian outfit, and given Brands was unwilling to pay €30m prior to his move to Italy, it seems unlikely he would be willing to pay more than that given Lozano is yet to really shine in Serie A.

In other Everton news, Alan Myers has offered an update on how many players he thinks the club will sign before the January deadline...