Everton boss Marco Silva is interested in a move for Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The Portuguese head coach is ideally after a target man that is capable of leading the line at Goodison Park next season, and is a fan of what the 33-year-old Croatian could offer in an attack partnered by Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
There has been talk of a move for Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa as the Spaniard could offer a similar type of skill set, but it is understood that the former Chelsea man is not currently on the boss’ radar.
Director of Football Marcel Brands has also made it clear that he will only sanction a high-figure purchase if the player falls within his 20 to 26 age bracket, and is reluctant to making a move that would impact the development of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Finances could also prove to be a key hurdle which rules out a move for £16.2million-rated Mandzukic, as the club are attempting to cut the wage bill following the permanent arrivals of Andre Gomes and Fabian Delph.
It is noted that any pursuits for further signings are effectively on hold until funds are raised by offloading the plethora of unwanted players taking up space on the club’s books, with Cenk Tosun one of many whose future appears bleak.
Adding the sort-after quality to our attack that Silva is after could hinge on cashing in on the £20million-valued Turkey striker though, while James McCarthy is expected to depart Merseyside this summer as well.
Yannick Bolasie, Mo Besic, Kevin Mirallas, and Cuco Martina are also currently seen as the leading players likely joining Nikola Vlasic and Ashley Williams leaving Goodison Park, too.
If the club are able to offload Tosun for their full £20million asking price, signing Mandzukic could prove an interesting proposition, as the 89-cap Croatia international would come with bags of experience from the Serie A, La Liga and the Bundesliga.
His 16-year professional career has featured 476 games in all club competitions, in which he has scored 188 goals and been credited with 92 assists, for a goal involvement strike rate of one every 130 minutes.
It was his year with Atletico Madrid where Mandzukic penned his best numbers in front of goal, though, as he hit 12 in 28 La Liga appearances, before leaving the Spanish capital for Juventus.