Everton are keeping tabs on Aston Villa midfielder Leander Dendoncker heading into the January transfer window, sources have told Football Insider.
It is believed Toffees manager Sean Dyche is a big fan of the 28-year-old – who is out of favour at Villa Park.
Premier League strugglers Everton will be in the market for a defensive midfielder in January despite their recent point deduction and subsequent financial worries.
Meanwhile, it is believed that Villa are willing to listen to offers for Dendoncker in the new year.
The Belgium international came close to agreeing a deadline-day move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce in the most recent summer window.
But terms could not be agreed and talks collapsed, keeping him at Villa Park until January.
Dendoncker is under contract with the Midlands giants until June 2027 and earns a reported £90,000-a-week wage.
He is well known to Everton director of football Kevin Thelwell from his time in charge of recruitment at Wolves, the player’s former club.
He has racked up just 119 minutes of action across eight appearances for Unai Emery’s side so far this season.
His last start came in the 1-0 Europa Conference League win over Zrinjski Mostar in early October – but he was withdrawn after 45 minutes.
The likes of Douglas Luiz, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans are above the 28-year-old in Emery’s pecking order.
Dendoncker, who cost a reported fee of around £13million when he joined from Wolves in 2022, can play at centre-back, defensive midfield and central midfield.
He has gone on to make just 29 appearances for the Midlands giants, totalling 893 minutes of action.
Everton sit 19th in the Premier League table and are five points from safety following their 3-0 home loss against Man United last week.
They are next in action against Nottingham Forest on Saturday (2 December), while fourth-place Aston Villa face Bournemouth in the league on Sunday (3 December).
In other news, Everton have “strong interest” in Championship star.
