Everton have been linked with a move for Watford winger Richarlison, with reports suggesting director of football Marcel Brands is an admirer of the Brazilian.

The Watford number 11 impressed during the early part of last season and attracted admiring glances from the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

He enjoyed his most productive spells in a Watford shirt under the now departed Marco Silva, who is now in charge at Everton, before falling out of favour when Javi Gracia took over.

Silva is known to rate the 21-year-old and as such a deal would appear to make sense, especially given Brands’ backing.

Brands is said to have scouted Richarlison before he made his move to Watford and there is little to suggest a relatively productive first term in England would have put him off making a swoop.

A figure in the region of £40 million is likely to be needed to even get Watford’s attention, but the difficult relationship between the two clubs will complicate matters considerably.

Watford insist Everton made an illegal approach for Silva when he was still in charge at Vicarage Road in November – a move which eventually led to Silva’s departure.

They have taken their complaints to the Premier League and are engaged with a compensation dispute with the Toffees.