Everton are hopeful of striking a permanent deal for goalkeeper Robin Olsen, according to The Athletic.
The lowdown
The Toffees signed the 31-year-old on a season-long loan from Roma at the end of the transfer window in October.
The Swede went on to make 11 appearances across all competitions, including seven Premier League starts when Jordan Pickford was either injured or dropped (via Transfermarkt). He kept three clean sheets in those games, conceding 16 goals.
The latest
Journalist Greg O'Keeffe has said that 'Ancelotti and Brands like him a lot', and both the Everton manager and director of football want to keep him as their number two goalkeeper for next season. Olsen is 'surplus to requirements' at the Stadio Olimpico, and so it seems mostly a matter of persuading the player to make the move. [The Athletic]
If they're unsuccessful, then they'll have to move onto other candidates to be Pickford's deputy. Everton have monitored Manchester United's Sergio Romero 'for a while', but that transfer is thought to be 'less likely' to materialise than it was last summer.
Meanwhile, Joao Virginia, who featured in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester City, is expected to be sent out on loan. [The Athletic]
The verdict
Olsen has been a decent back-up option for Everton, although Romero may have a slight edge given his big-game experience from 61 appearances at Old Trafford.
Whilst Roma may not stand in the Swede's way if he wishes to leave the Serie A club permanently, it could be tricky for Everton to convince him to return after what O'Keeffe called a 'nasty break-in' at his home in England.
If he doesn't wish to come back, and efforts at signing Romero prove unsuccessful, perhaps Everton will simply decide to go with Virginia as Pickford's understudy instead.
In other news, many Everton fans were buzzing over this James Rodriguez update.