Everton are in talks over a club-record deal for Watford winger Richarlison.
Marco Silva worked with the former Brazil under-20 international during his time at Vicarage Road and is now keen on a reunion as Blues manager.
Richarlison enjoyed an impressive start to life in the Premier League with five goals in his opening 12 games last season but struggled to build on that form.
But Silva is preparing to make the 21-year-old his first summer signing at Goodison Park following discussions with his former employers on Friday.
New Everton director of football Marcel Brands is also understood to be an admirer of Richarlison’s abilities from his time at PSV Eindhoven.
Watford are holding out for a valuation of £50 million, which would see the ex-Fluminense player eclipse Gylfi Sigurdsson as Everton’s record signing.
Relations between the two clubs had been at a sticking point in the wake of Goodison Park chiefs’ attempts to appoint Silva since October last year.
Watford cited Everton’s interest in the Portuguese coach as an ‘unwarranted approach’ and a key factor in their decision to part with him in January.
Richarlison’s likely signing is expected to kickstart a flurry of transfer activity on the blue half of Merseyside, with a move for Yerry Mina still in the pipeline.
Mina’s Barcelona teammate Lucas Digne is also expected to be targeted as Silva aims to freshen up the squad he inherited from Sam Allardyce.
The Colombina’s agent and uncle Jair Mina revealed that he has already held talks with Brands about a potential switch to Everton.
“I had communication with the Everton sports director,” he told Cadena Cope.
“Yerry has many offers, but his dream is to play at Barça. He knows that Barça have 25 squad places available and everyone is important.
“But what’s important to him is that he plays.”