Updated Everton have taken the next step towards bringing Orel Mangala back to the Premier League with the defensive midfielder on his way to Merseyside to undergo a medical ahead of a season-long loan from Olympique Lyonnais.
The Blues were known to be pursuing another central midfield signing before this Friday’s deadline and the 26-year-old Belgian international fit the bill even though he has only just signed a permanent deal with the League 1 club this summer.
Mangala spent two years at Nottingham Forest where he made 47 league appearances but spent the last few months on loan with Lyon before agreeing a £15m move at the beginning of July. According to L’Equipe and El Bobble, earlier this week he was set to spend this season at Goodison Park if an arrangement could be struck.
This would be the second deal that Everton have pursued with Lyon this summer following the acquisition of Jake O’Brien in a 17m pound transfer last month and there is talk of interest from the Blues in winger Ernest Nuamah.