Everton would consider signing Hirving Lozano, but only if he was available at the right price.
Links between the Mexico international and Goodison Park have been well-established and predate the arrival of Marcel Brands as director of football.
Brands signed Lozano during his previous role at PSV Eindhoven and is increasingly tipped to secure a reunion with the forward at the Blues.
But the Everton chief is wary of making a significant outlay for the 23-year-old and cited Naby Keita’s slow start at Liverpool in his thoughts process.
“I think that if Hirving Lozano and Steven Bergwijn go directly to the absolute top in the Premier League, they will have it very difficult,” Brands told Voetbal International.
“Look at Keïta at Liverpool. He was signed for more than €50m from Leipzig, but is simply on the bench.
“Of course Lozano and Bergwijn are interesting players, but €30m for Hirving and €20m for Steven, we will not pay that.
“For Richarlison we have indeed paid a lot of money, but he is 21 years old and has already shown it in the Premier League. He is likely to deliver double.
“I do not know yet with Lozano and Bergwijn. If Lozano would cost €20 million, I would consider it.
“But at higher amounts we look at players who have already proven it in the Premier League or in another big league.”
Lozano helped PSV to last season’s Eredivisie title and rose to further prominence in scoring Mexico’s winning goal in their opening World Cup clash with Germany.