Everton have opened talks with Southampton defender Cuco Martina.
Martina worked under Ronald Koeman during the Blues manager’s final season at St Mary’s and will be out of contract with the South Coast club later this month.
A move for the Curacao international had been mooted last summer but injury to Jeremy Pied prompted Claude Puel to reconsider allowing the full-back to leave.
Koeman still sees Martina as an ideal candidate to fill the void left by Seamus Coleman’s currently projected lay-off until the end of the calendar year.
Coleman suffered a double leg fracture on Republic of Ireland duty in March, which prompted Mason Holgate and Jonjoe Kenny to deputise in his absence.
But the Everton manager is understood to favour Martina’s experience and versatility as an optional centre-back as a better fit for his squad this summer.