Everton are leading the race to sign AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: January contact made

Sean Dyche failed to bring a single player to Goodison Park during the short amount of time he had available to him at the start of the New Year but it sounds like he’s already identifying his targets for the upcoming window.

Abraham’s contract at the Stadio Olimpico isn’t set to expire until 2026, but having recently dropped off in form under Jose Mourinho, he could be on the move at the end of the season.

The Yellow and Reds forward is no stranger to Premier League football, having worked his way up through the ranks from being an academy graduate to a senior first-team squad member at Chelsea.

iNews report that the Toffees had an approach for the 25-year-old turned down in January, but having made contact, it’s believed that the Italian giants would be willing to listen to offers.

The Latest: Everton in pole position

According to Forzaroma.info (via Sport Witness), Everton are in the ‘front row’ to sign Abraham with several clubs, including the Merseysiders, ‘ready to present important offers’.

Roma have already ‘fixed’ their asking price and are set to demand a fee of €75m (£66m) in order to sanction his sale.

Dyche’s side are ‘in the picture’ to land England’s former international, who could ‘part ways’ with the Serie A outfit should his form not improve between now and the conclusion of the term.

The Verdict: No-brainer

Abraham has been dubbed a ‘goal machine’ by former professional Stephen Elliot and should the opportunity to sign him arise this summer, Everton have a no-brainer of a decision to make.

Mourinho’s striker has posted a remarkable 202 goal contributions (159 goals and 43 assists) in 355 career appearances, highlighting how prolific he can be in the final third.

The Camberwell-born talent would also be the ideal target man up top standing at 6 foot 2 where he’s currently averaging 2.2 aerial wins per league game.

Chelsea’s former star offers excellent flexibility with his ability to operate out wide on both the left and right wings alongside his natural centre-forward position, making him a valuable player to have in the building.

Finally, Abraham has bagged three senior trophies during his career so far, including winning the Champions League with the Blues, so he would be able to bring a much-needed winning mentality to Goodison Park.