TOFFEES BID TO PIP REDS TO FOFANA SIGNING

Report says Everton have made contact with Olympique Lyonnais over much sought-after winger

- By CHRIS BEESLEY

EVERTON are attempting to derail Liverpool's transfer plans for Olympique Lyonnais wonderkid Malick Fofana, according to a report.

The Blues' neighbours, who last season celebrated their first league title in front of fans for 35 years have been reinforcing their position so far this summer with what has been a lavish spending spree.

Arne Slot's men have broken their transfer record to snap up their first nine-figure signing in £116m Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, while also buying Jeremie Frimpong from the same Bundesliga side for £29.5m and Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez for £40m.

However, the Reds might not be having it all their own way, according to a report from TEAMtalk, who state that despite facing tough competition from no fewer than half the division - with at least 10 other Premier League clubs also interested, including Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, - Everton have made contact with Lyon to enquire about Fofana.

Despite this it has also been remarked that no clubs are in advanced talks at this stage.

Born in Aalst, in East Flanders on March 31, 2005, Fofana only came out of his teens earlier this year but the winger who can operate on both flanks, although predominantly deployed on the left so far, has caught the eye by hitting double figures for Lyon in all competitions last season.