Everton are set to miss out on signing long-term target Thiago Mendes, as Le10 Sport understand Olympique Lyonnais have reached an agreement with LOSC Lille for their defensive midfielder.
It was noted earlier in the month that our Director of Football Marcel Brands had approached the Stade Pierre Mauroy natives in a bid to pursue the Brazilian once more, having first targeted Mendes in January while Paris Saint-Germain heavily courted Idrissa Gana Gueye.
A deal was even reached in the winter between Brands and Lille for the 27-year-old’s services, with a fee of €23million (£20.5m) reported by the French media at the time, although the move hinged on PSG taking Gueye to Les Parc des Princes.
If the £70,000-a-week midfielder does now leave Goodison Park in the summer, Brands will have to look elsewhere for his replacement, as it is thought Mendes will be joining Lyon, after Les Gones stepped up their efforts to sign the Sao Luis-born midfield anchor.
Negotiations between the two Ligue 1 outfits commenced part way through June, with Lyon looking to secure a double deal for Mendes and his teammate Youssouf Kone, after we lodged a new bid for the Goias EC product.
While it was not claimed how much the new offer from Everton amounted to, Le10 Sport understand Mendes will be off to Lyon in a deal which could reach €35million (£31.3m), although that figure may include left-back Kone.