Gianluca Di Marzio told Sky Sports News (via Sky Sports’ Transfer Centre January 23, 9:08pm) that Southampton midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is a primary transfer target for Everton, and Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti would certainly be performing an almighty U-turn if he does sign him.

Sky Sports reported earlier in the month that one of the Merseyside outfit’s priorities was to bring in a central midfield player during the January window, and it appears as though the Denmark international is their first-choice option, as per the Italian journalist.

However, Di Marzio did add that the club was unwilling to pay the 24-year-old’s reported £35m price tag.

Hojbjerg has certainly shown some impressive form in recent weeks while captaining Saints to five wins in their previous seven Premier League matches, and journalist Roshane Thomas tweeted earlier this month that the Dane had recovered possession more times than any other player in the Premier League.

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It hasn’t always been easy for the former Bayern Munich man at St Mary’s with the club battling against relegation in two successive seasons before the current campaign, but he has never shied away from his responsibilities – indeed he was happy to front up to the media following the difficult 9-0 home defeat against Leicester City back in October.

Ancelotti signing him would also signal a huge change of opinion from the experienced manager about the player, who departed shortly after he officially replaced Pep Guardiola at the Allianz Arena in the summer of 2016.

While he may have only taken charge 10 days before Hojbjerg joined Southampton on July 11, it had been announced in December 2015 that he was going to succeed the Spaniard at the end of the season.

Presumably then, the now 60-year-old had the chance to keep the Dane at the club if he so wished, although a report by WhoScored before his imminent move to St Mary’s said that he had told the midfielder that he wasn’t part of his plans.

Of course, Hojbjerg was only 20 at the time and had just had a relatively low-key loan spell with Schalke, and it is therefore understandable that Ancelotti may not have seen then what he may do now.

However, there is no hiding the fact that if Di Marzio is right, he is ready to perform an almighty U-turn now he wants to work with the Denmark international again three-and-a-half years after he was so happy to let him leave Bayern.

In other Everton news, Alan Myers has offered an update on how many signings he thinks the club will make before the deadline…