Everton and Manchester United are thought to be battling it out for the signature of Southampton centre-back Jose Fonte.
New Toffees manager Ronald Koeman is keen to bring the 32-year-old with him to Goodison Park this summer and has tabled a bid of £9m, according to The Sun.
Defence was a problem for Everton last season as they finished joint-sixth worst in the Premier League in terms of goals conceded, with the back four letting in an average of 1.45 goals per game.
Everton have been notably quiet so far this transfer window, with goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg the only senior addition since Koeman took the reins.
Koeman views Fonte as the ideal man to strengthen his back four ahead of the new campaign but faces competition to sign him from Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who is in the market to add an experienced defender to his squad.
Fonte has been with the Saints since 2009 when the team were still a League One outfit and has gone on to register 241 appearances.
Neil Wilkes
