Everton will look to push through a £25 million deal for Michael Keane, the Burnley defender, before they return for pre-season training next week.
Ronald Koeman has made the England centre back his first choice to bolster his rearguard and discussions between the clubs have been taking place.
Manchester United had been interested in Keane, but opted for the £30.7 million capture of Victor Lindelof, from Benfica, instead.
Koeman has already made a number of additions to his squad this summerADAM DAVY/PA WIRE
Keane knows he will play regularly at Goodison Park and would join a club determined to make in-roads into the Premier League’s elite.
Everton have already recruited Jordan Pickford, Davy Klaassen, Henry Onyekuru and have a deal for Sandro Ramírez in place which would take their June spending to £66 million. Cuco Martina will join on a free transfer from Southampton.
In addition to Keane, Koeman also wants Gylfi Sigurdsson, although Swansea City are resistant to selling the Iceland international, who carries a valuation of around £40 million.
Meanwhile, Jose Baxter will resume his playing career next week and re-join Everton after serving a season-long drugs ban.
The FA has confirmed that Baxter will be able to register with a club from Saturday with his suspension due to end on Friday.
Baxter, 25, will report to Everton next Monday for the start of pre-season training and will work with David Unsworth’s Under-23 squad after being handed a season-long contract by the club.
The midfielder was contacted by Everton chairman Bill Kenwright following an interview in
The Times in which he discussed his ban after traces of cocaine were found in a sample given following a night out while he was at Sheffield United.
He has been given a second chance by the club he joined at the age of six but left in 2012, despite being offered a two-year contract, in search of regular first-team football. Baxter will be subject to spot tests and will be monitored more closely than other players.