Everton have reportedly begun negotiations with Porto over a potential move to bring attacker Yacine Brahimi to Goodison Park.
The 26-year-old was left out of the Portuguese outfit's Champions League squad in midweek after being strongly linked with a summer exit.
Reports emerged this weekend suggesting that Arsenal were preparing a bid of their own for the Algeria international but, according to Sky Sports News, Everton have stolen a march on their Premier League rivals by already holding talks.
It is claimed that Brahimi, valued at around the £40m mark, will take some major convincing to join a club outside of European football's top club competition, however, with the Gunners one of just a few sides he would consider joining.
Brahimi, the scorer of 21 goals in 77 appearances for Porto, is already thought to have turned down one big-money approach from a Chinese outfit this summer.
Daniel Lewis
