Everton are set to revive their interest in Rangers defender Nathan Patterson.
Rafael Benitez saw successive attempts to sign the right-back last summer rebuffed by the Scottish champions’ erstwhile manager Steven Gerrard.
Gerrard, who played under Benitez during his time at Liverpool, dismissed the Blues’ opening bid for Patterson in the region of £5 million as ‘a joke’.
But the Spaniard is expected to renew interest in the 20-year-old when the transfer window reopens in efforts to ease Seamus Coleman’s workload.
Republic of Ireland captain Coleman has remained a virtual ever-present for Everton this term despite turning 33 in October and suffering injury problems.
A deal for Dynamo Kiev left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko for £18m is expected to be confirmed imminently with personal terms and a medical already finalised.
The 22-year-old’s arrival at Goodison Park will invariably cast further doubts on Lucas Digne’s future after he was dropped by Benitez in recent weeks.
Digne was a notable omission from Everton’s games with Arsenal and Crystal Palace before allegedly declaring himself unfit for last week’s trip to Chelsea.