Interest in Hull City winger Jaden Philogene has severely intensified over recent days, with Everton now joining the list of potential suitors for the winger.
Ever since moving from Aston Villa in a reported £5m deal last August, the former Cardiff City and Stoke City loanee's pedigree at Championship level has increased with a plethora of strong performances and goal contributions for Hull, despite the club falling short of their well-documented play-off ambitions last term.
However, it's all change at the MKM Stadium this summer as Tim Walter takes the reins from Liam Rosenior, with the German the third man in Acun Ilicali's tenure tasked with ending City's exile from the Premier League.
To do so, plenty of movement is expected across the summer window, and it does seem like the potential for Philogene to follow the likes of Ozan Tufan out of the exit door isn't beyond the realms of possibility.
Everton plot move for Hull City's Jaden Philogene
Unsurprisingly, many clubs in the Premier League and across the continent have monitored the 22-year-old's development and fine form over the course of the season, having been highly-rated previously from his time at Villa Park, with it being mooted at the time that Philogene could've played a part in Unai Emery's first-team plans.
However, the London-born wide man has continued to blossom in the second tier and ended up as City's top goalscorer last term with 12, and that includes a two-month spell on the sidelines between December and February after sustaining a knee injury.
Philogene's goals were often eye-catching, none more so than his rabona-style effort against Rotherham United, and unsurprisingly, such ability has now caught the eye of Everton and Sean Dyche, who are said to be preparing a £16m offer for his signature, according to MailSport.
The report goes on to state that the Toffees face competition from West Ham United, with Julen Lopetegui and the Hammers hierarchy currently deciding whether to pursue their own bid for the four-time England U21 international.
Philogene isn't the only prized asset on the Tigers' books linked with a move to either Goodison Park or the London Stadium, as centre-back Jacob Greaves falls under the same category, although West Ham are said to have turned their attention to Wolves' Max Kilman, whilst the 23-year-old has been viewed as a potential Jarrad Branthwaite replacement on Merseyside.
Further competition in the race to sign Jaden Philogene
Unlike Everton, West Ham's interest in Philogene has been known prior to the aforementioned report, as the East London side face competition from Southampton and Ipswich Town, meanwhile Crystal Palace are another side credited with previous interest.
Tottenham Hotspur's desire to strike a deal with the Championship side has been much more long-standing, having seen their name surface alongside Hull's top scorer back in February, before strengthening their pursuit in recent days following a shock link between the winger and Barcelona.
Hansi Flick's side have identified Philogene as a 'plan B' after being unable to garner the €58m required to acquire Athletic Bilbao and Spain international, Nico Williams, with it being said that the Catalan side have made contact over a possible loan deal with a view to make it permanent next summer, which could be impacted by a potential £15m buyback clause in the deal that saw him move from the West Midlands to HU3, as it only activates once Hull and Villa are in the same division.
£16m would fall way short of Hull City's Jaden Philogene valuation
You'd be hard-pressed to find any Tigers supporter who believes that Philogene hasn't earned a shot at regular top flight football. However, accepting a £16m offer from Everton would no doubt frustrate the majority, especially when Acun Ilicali has stated he wouldn't accept even £30m from a top flight side.
That was back in April, so perhaps there is a chance that the Turkish businessman has tempered his expectations when it comes to a potential sale value, but the ball is firmly in City's court to negotiate the hardest possible bargain for any suitors.
The fact so many sides are interested should also influence the chairman and CEO Tan Kesler to take this avenue, especially when their new head coach needs to fill so many gaps in what is now a thin squad after the departure of a multitude of loan signings from last season.
Unfortunately, this latest twist shows that those connected to the second tier side may be waiting even longer for a resolution to this ongoing transfer saga ahead of the new season.