Tuesday 3 January 2017 14:28, UK
Everton are in talks with Manchester United over a deal for Morgan Schneiderlin but West Bromwich Albion remain interested, Sky sources understand.
Discussions between Everton and United are at an early stage, with reports of an initial £19m offer being rejected and United looking to recoup more of the £24m fee they paid for Schneiderlin when they bought him from Southampton in 2014.
West Brom are understood to have made the midfielder their No 1 target for the transfer window and are prepared to come back with a higher offer after their opening £18m bid was turned down.
Ronald Koeman will lose Senegal international Idrissa Gueye to the Africa Cup of Nations later in January, while James McCarthy has been struggling with ongoing injury problems, and former Everton defender Alan Stubbs believes Schneiderlin would provide an ideal replacement in midfield.
"He's the type of player Everton are looking for to enhance the squad," Stubbs told Premier League Daily. "He's gone to United, and not really had the playing time that he would have liked to have got.
"His form at Southampton was very good, which led to him getting the move.
"He would be a really good addition to Everton. Obviously they've made an opening bid, everybody knows that Everton have got money to spend and I think this could be a busy transfer window for them."
Schneiderlin, 27, is also understood to be a target for Ligue 1 side Marseille, and Sky Sports football expert Ray Parlour insists any club would benefit from the signing.
"He's at that age now where you want to be playing regular football, he wants to get out," said Parlour. "Whoever gets him, it is a very good signing."
Schneiderlin has featured in just three Premier League games since Jose Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal as manager, with the United boss having admitted the player is free to leave Old Trafford.
