Everton have offered Southampton £18m for Tottenham target Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, claims The Daily Telegraph.
Hojbjerg as entered the final 12 months of his current Southampton contract and has turned down their offer a new deal.
Southampton will sell the 24-year-old at the end of the season rather than lose him for free next summer.
Tottenham were considered frontrunners for Hojbjerg's signature and have even discussed a potential swap deal involving Kyle Walker-Peters, who is currently at Southampton on loan.
However, Everton are looking to hi-jack Tottenham's deal with an offer Jose Mourinho's side are unlikely to match.
Mourinho has been warned there is no money available this summer due to the financial impact of COVID-19 and he must instead utilise free transfers and loan signings.
Hojbjerg's preference is to join Tottenham but Everton's offer, even though less than their £25m asking price, has given Southampton plenty to ponder.
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti is a huge admirer of Hojbjerg and is desperate to land him in a bid to overhaul the club's midfield for next season.
The former Bayern Munich prodigy, who has also been linked with Ajax and Manchester City, has won possession in the middle third more times than any other player in the Premier League this season (181).
