Everton are preparing to fight it out with Stoke City to land Leo Lacroix.
The centre-back is no stranger to Merseyside, having faced Liverpool with Sion during last season’s Europa League group stages but could now be set for a permanent switch under Ronald Koeman.
Lacroix made 29 appearances for the Swiss club in all competitions last term and has been tracked by Everton as well as other clubs from across Europe.
But La Gazetta dello Sport claim that AC Milan are no longer in the running for the 24-year-old, leaving both the Blues and their Premier League counterparts running against each other in the race for his signature.
Koeman is understood to have identified Lacroix as a potential addition to his defensive set-up amid continued concerns that John Stones may leave Goodison Park this summer.