Everton in pole position to sign Merlin Rohl for £12m amid Amadou Onana exit development

Everton are ready to bring £12million Freiburg midfielder Merlin Rohl to Goodison Park as a summer replacement for Amadou Onana, according to Alan Nixon.

The newspaper journalist reported that Everton look set to beat both Newcastle and Crystal Palace to the German's signature, while preparing to sell current midfielder Onana for £50million.

By contrast, Rohl will only cost the club £12million from Freiburg, and will represent good business if the cash-strapped Toffees can recoup a significant amount for Onana at the same time.

On his Patreon page (5 May), Nixon said: "Everton are hoping to sell Amadou Onana abroad for big money to balance their books, possibly picking up a fee in excess of £50million.

"Rohl is similar to Onana in size and style and a player on the rise for both club and country."

He added that: "Rohl would only cost around £12 million, a fee that is also attracting Newcastle and Palace who have him on their extended lists of targets."

Everton ready to Rohl as Amadou Onana exit looks likely

Everton may have confirmed their Premier League safety in recent weeks with four wins from their last six games, but that doesn't mean the club won't be forced into making big changes this summer.

Several financial fair play chickens came home to roost for the Toffees this season, being hit with two separate penalties amounting to a total of eight deducted points.

Sean Dyche's side have done well to pull 11 points clear of the bottom three with a eight chalked off their tally, but if the club want to avoid another season of financial turmoil, they must balance the books this summer.

If the Blues are to keep their heads above water via player sales this summer, few departures make more sense than Onana. Everton are keen for him make a move outside the Premier League, but significant interest has come from some of England's top clubs.

Teams in the English top-flight are undoubtedly better placed than most to make big-money signings, and if Everton can make the full £50 million they want from the Belgian's transfer, adding Merlin Rohl as a replacement will look like a stroke of magic.

In other Everton news, the club are also keen on a Blackburn Rovers star as part of a double Championship swoop.

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