Everton in contact with Villarreal to sign Samu Chukwueze ahead of transfer deadline

Villarreal are reportedly aware that Everton have a high interest in signing their attacker Samu Chukwueze ahead of the transfer deadline.

According to Spanish media outlet AS, as the Toffees have initiated first contact, both parties are now sitting at the negotiation table.

Should a good offer be made, the Yellow Submarine is set to accept the bid and let the 23-year-old leave the club ahead of 11pm on Thursday night.

Out of the blue

Deadline day does tend to throw curveballs and it seems like those have started to arrive a day earlier than expected.

Over the past few weeks, there was nothing to suggest that the Nigeria international is even on the Toffees' radar and they've now started talks over a possible move.

We're unsure how credible the Toffees' interest is and they may be enquiring about him just in case some of their other targets do not work out.

Our understanding is that Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz remains at the top of their priority list in the final third.

In the last few days, the Toffees have made some important strides towards trying to sign the Chilean and a deadline day bid for him cannot be ruled out just yet.

Everton are understood to be continuing talks to sign the 23-year-old Chile striker and have already launched a formal move to bring him to Goodison Park.