Ralf Rangnick has claimed that Ademola Lookman wants to leave Everton.
Lookman spent the second half of last season on loan with RB Leipzig and scored five goals in his 11 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit.
The Blues’ new director of football Marcel Brands hinted that the 20-year-old would be given regular first-team opportunities under Marco Silva this season.
But Rangnick, who took temporary charge of Leipzig for a second time on Monday, insists that Lookman is intent on rejoining the Red Bull-owned side.
He said: “I think three more signings are realistic.
“We’re still in talks over Ademola Lookman – we want him back and he wants to come.
“We’re also looking at something in central midfield, whether that’s a no. 6, 8 or 10.”
Erstwhile Everton manager Sam Allardyce claimed that Lookman had forced through his temporary switch to Leipzig in the January transfer window.
“We tried to persuade him not to because I think that’s a big challenge for his development,” Allardyce said at the time.
“We wanted him to go out on loan in the hope he will play first-team football every week.
“We had a much better opportunity to give him that but his stubbornness got him his own way in the end.”