Ambitious Everton have made a signal of intent by opening talks with Wolfsburg over the transfer of German star Julian Draxler.
According to "?the Independent, the Toffees have already approached Wolfsburg with an offer to sign Draxler, who is currently desperate to leave the Volkswagen Arena.
After the player declared on Wednesday that he wanted to part ways with his current employers, Europe's top clubs have been on alert, ready to pounce at the perfect opportunity.
Draxler said in an interview with Bild on Wednesday: "I have expressed myself clearly to [coach] Dieter Hecking that after the Euros I want to leave Wolfsburg.
"We had a verbal agreement when I joined in August 2015 that I could leave the club if the possibility arose. It was always clear between all parties that I would like to go to a top international club if the chance came."
Draxler has a release clause of €75m (£63m) and despite Wolfsburg categorically stating that he is going nowhere, if the clause was activated, they would have very little say in the matter.
The only saving grace for Wolfsburg could potentially be the 22-year-old's desire to join an established top club like Arsenal, who have been linked with the player on several occasions - though the Gunners are yet to make a formal bid.
And it is Ronald Koeman's Everton who have made the first move, which could prove to be a shrewd piece of business.
The Toffees have only so far signed Idrissa Gueye and Maarten Stekelenburg this summer but the signing of Draxler would dwarf both new stars and show the ambition and forward-thinking of majority investor Farhad Moshiri.
Swansea's Ashley Williams has also been mentioned after a terrific Euro 2016 campaign that saw Wales make it all the way to the semi-finals of the competition.
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