Marcel Brands has established a solid negotiating relationship with Barcelona since he arrived as Everton's director of football last summer, and there is a suggestion that he could use that relationship to his advantage with a bargain deal this month. 

The Catalan giants provided Everton with Lucas Digne, Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes in 2018, with all three adding genuine quality to Marco Silva's side.

The latter is only at Everton on a season-long loan so doubts about his long-term future are naturally bound to loom large at Goodison Park in the coming months.

Whether Everton will be able to strike a permanent deal remains to be seen, but a recent report from Spanish media outlet Sport suggests a more financially viable alternative is on Brands' radar.

Indeed, the report claims that Everton, West Ham and Watford are all interested in signing Denis Suarez this month, with Barcelona slapping a minimum asking price of €10 million (£9 million) on his head.

The former Manchester City talent, as you would expect from a player residing within Barcelona's ranks, is technically astute with an appetite for the aesthetically pleasing side of the game.

Suarez was tipped to enjoy a glowing career in European football when he was rising through the ranks in Manchester but his career has failed to take off since he moved to Catalonia.

In a squad as competitive as Barcelona's Suarez has been left out in the cold and craving first-team opportunities, leaving his price-tag at a very modest £9 million.

In the modern economic climate it's rare to find a player of Suarez's technical prowess at such an attractive price, and his rumoured availability might just force Brands to make a bold decision in favour of the 24-year-old if it transpires that a permanent deal for Gomes is beyond Everton's financial capabilities.

Either way it's fair to say that a genuine bargain is staring Everton in the face and Brands' obsession with Barcelona outcasts might just give him the edge over rival bidders on the negotiating table.

Everton fans - thoughts? Let us know below!