Report: Everton plotting £10M move for Charlton's Ademola Lookman

Everton is expected to kick off what should be a busy transfer period with the signing of a promising young English forward.

The Merseyside outfit is closing in on a transfer that would secure the services of Charlton forward Ademola Lookman in a deal expected to cost Everton £10 million, according to Phil McNulty of the BBC.

The report adds that the 19-year-old is at the top of director of football Steve Walsh's wish list, and that Everton manager Ronald Koeman is optimistic a deal will be completed shortly after the January transfer window opens.

Speaking with reporters ahead of Friday's clash with Hull City, Koeman confirmed that the forward has popped up on the team's radar, but did not reveal how close it is to completing a deal for Lookman, who has found the back of the net seven times this season for Charlton.

"There is interest for the boy, yes," Koeman said, according to ITV.

It was initially expected that Charlton would request that Lookman be loaned back until the end of the season. However, the reported deal looks as though it won't include a loan agreement with the League 1 side, as Everton is said to be eager to offer the England Under-20 international a chance during the second half of the season.

Everton will likely face competition, as Crystal Palace has also been linked with Lookman, but is considered the favourite to land him.

Lookman is just one of a handful of players Everton is reportedly targeting during the winter transfer window, with reports suggesting Koeman could be close to adding out-of-favour Manchester United duo Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay to his squad as well.