Chelsea and Arsenal are reportedly both keeping tabs on Amadou Onana's situation at Everton this summer.
The 21-year-old midfielder was heavily linked with a January move to Stamford Bridge, but ultimately stayed at Goodison Park and helped the Toffees to narrowly avoid relegation on the final day of the Premier League season.
However, Onana is reportedly desperate to leave Everton this summer in order to join a club fighting at the opposite end of the table.
Football.london reports that Chelsea are ready to revive their interest in his signature as they undergo a major midfield overhaul following their worst season in a generation.
N'Golo Kante has already left the club for Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad, while Mateo Kovacic is on the verge of joining Manchester City and the likes of Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have also been strongly linked with exits.
The report claims that incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino has earmarked Onana as a potential partner for Enzo Fernandez in the heart of the Chelsea midfield.
© Reuters
However, the Blues could face competition for the Belgian's signature from London rivals Arsenal, who are also looking to bolster their midfield ranks this summer.
The futures of both Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey could lie away from the Emirates Stadium, making midfield reinforcements one of Mikel Arteta's top priorities for the ongoing transfer window.
Arsenal are thought to be close to completing a deal to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea, with the idea of playing him in midfield, while they have seen two big-money bids rejected for West Ham United's Declan Rice.
Last season's runners-up have suffered a significant setback in their pursuit of Rice, though, with Man City having now entered the race for the England international's signature too.
Onana only joined Everton from Lille last summer, making 35 appearances across all competitions during his debut season on Merseyside.
The Toffees are keen to make a sizeable profit if they do sell the 21-year-old, though, with an asking price of £55m reportedly being mooted - 12 months on from bringing him to the club in a deal which could rise to £33m.
Manchester United have also been credited with an interest in Onana and could rekindle their pursuit should the Senegal-born midfielder become available.
Barney Corkhill
