Everton have made a bid to sign Axel Witsel from Russian giants Zenit St. Petersburg, taking a decisive step forward in their interest in the midfielder, who has also been linked with the Toffees' Merseyside rivals Liverpool.
Witsel has just a year remaining on his contract at Zenit and is edging slowly but surely towards the exit door at the club.
He has attracted interest from Stoke City, who were claimed to have slapped in a bid, and Italian giants Roma, where he would reunite with coach Luciano Spalletti.
Napoli are now in the race, but it has been suggested Witsel would prefer a move to Serie A to link up with Spalletti.
However, England remains a possibility and despite Liverpool's interest, it is Everton who have taken the initiative and according to Belgian daily Het Laaste Nieuws, they have lodged a bid with Zenit for the midfielder.
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New Everton manager Ronald Koeman is an admirer of Witsel and wants to be able to call upon him next season at Goodison Park.
Witsel joined Zenit in 2012 after the Russian side met his buy-out clause of €40m at Portuguese giants Benfica.
