Amadou Onana is due to undergo a medical at Everton, the ECHO understands.
The 20-year-old has agreed personal terms after the Blues swooped for him this week, reaching a deal thought to be worth in excess of £30m with French side Lille. He had been on the club's radar for some time but the Blues swooped for the Belgium international this week while West Ham United were in talks for his signature.
The midfielder is set to be a key part of Frank Lampard's efforts to strengthen his squad. Talks to seal Idrissa Gueye's return to Goodison Park from Paris St Germain are also ongoing. The 32-year-old has been left out of PSG's squad to face Clermont this weekend.
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Frank Lampard has been open about his desire to add depth to Everton's midfield, particularly with a 'number six'. Onana, given his Belgium debut earlier this year by former Blues boss Roberto Martinez, can play in that role.
Lampard's hope for reinforcements became particularly clear in Everton's final pre-season friendly against Dynamo Kyiv. He praised Alex Iwobi and Abdoulaye Doucoure for their work in the centre of midfield in the 3-0 win but accepted it was a makeshift partnership enforced upon him by injuries.
Since then Everton have moved for 6ft 5in Onana, who signed for Lille from German side Hamburg 12 months ago. Lampard is understood to have been keen on signing more than one midfielder during the summer and efforts to secure a return for Gueye are also continuing.
Onana would become Everton's fourth summer signing following the permanent arrivals of James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil and the loan move for Ruben Vinagre. Even if the deal is concluded before kick-off he would not be available to play in the opening game of the season against Chelsea, however, after the deadline for registering new players for the fixture passed on Friday.
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