Everton have revived their long-term interest in Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney.
The 23-year-old has been on David Moyes' radar for a new midfielder for some time.
Everton are keen to bolster that position this summer and Hackney is high among the names they are considering making a bid for.
Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest have also monitored the England U21 extensively.
Forest had an approach for him knocked back in January, while the player turned down Ipswich last summer.
He missed Boro's Championship play-off semi-finals against Southampton because of injury but came off the bench in the final defeat to Hull.
Hackney scored five goals and registered 38 assists in 38 Championship appearances last season.
'Middlesbrough resigned to Hackney departure'
Gary Weaver on the Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast:
"I'd be surprised if Hayden Hackney is still at Middlesbrough by September.
"Brentford like him a lot. Everton like him. Forest and Ipswich both made bids last season. I think Middlesbrough are resigned to the fact he will probably go.
"He's been a fantastic Championship player this season. Even in that brief cameo in the final you saw how opposition teams react to him."
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Andy Hinchcliffe on the Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast:
"The first time I saw Hackney play I noticed he was a ball carrier who keeps his head up. That's a Premier League trait. He understands what's going on around him.
"I've even heard Manchester United mentioned. That might sound ambitious but they are looking at younger talented players and Hackney fits the bill. Training with elite midfielders can elevate a player massively.
"If the offers are from mid-table Premier League clubs he may think long and hard because he clearly cares about Middlesbrough. But it feels like only a matter of time before he moves to the Premier League."
