Everton rumoured to be in for Leipzig forward Augustin

Everton are reportedly interested in RB Leipzig striker Jean-Kévin Augustin.

According to France Football, the Blues will target the 21-year-old, who is said to be valued at nearly £40 million.

Augustin was team-mates with Toffees winger Ademola Lookman during his loan spell at the Bundesliga side in the second half of last season.

Since joining Leizpig from Paris Saint-Germain for about £12 million in July 2017, Augustin has scored 18 goals in 54 outings for the club, with six of those coming this campaign.

The striking department is Everton’s most likely area where reinforcements will be targeted during the January transfer window.

Recognised forwards Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Cenk Tosun and Oumar Niasse have only six goals between them all season, while winger Richarlison and attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurðsson have managed more on their own (eight and seven respectively).

Augustin has also represented France at youth level, and was named player of the tournament at the 2016 under-19s European Championships, scoring in a 4-0 victory over Italy in the final.

But he drew criticism in September for informing under-21 coach Sylvain Ripoll by text that he was withdrawing from the squad due to muscle fatigue, only to play in a friendly for RB Leipzig during the same international break.

The relationship between the two clubs is frosty at best following Leipzig’s relentless pursuit of Lookman with the Blues flat out refusing to sell. Now the Toffees will test the German side’s resolve instead.