Everton are reportedly looking to make Watford captain Troy Deeney their number-one target in January, according to ESPN.

The Hornets striker has found himself largely second choice at Vicarage Road this season, and the Toffees are said to be eyeing a cut-price deal for the 29-year-old, on the back of Sam Allardyce's appointment at the club.

It is little secret that Everton are on the look-out for a new striker, and have not replaced £75-million man Romelu Lukaku who left for Manchester United in the summer.

Steve Walsh, who heads up the club's recruitment, is known to be an admirer of Deeney and submitted several bids for him when at Leicester City in 2016, shortly before he himself left the Foxes to move to Goodison Park.

He was reportedly blocked in an effort to sign Deeney in the summer by then manager Ronald Koeman, who had eyes for Arsenal frontman Olivier Giroud instead.

But Allardyce is a long-time admirer of the former Walsall forward, and is said to be determined to add him to his squad in January.

Deeney has started only four Premier League games this season, scoring two penalties, but with Stefano Okaka also likely to leave the club in the winter transfer window, the Hornets would need serious re-inforcements in attack should Everton also make a move for their captain.