Everton Transfer News: Gianluca Lapadula, Carlos Bacca Reportedly Among Targets

Everton have reportedly sent officials to Italy to discuss deals for AC Milan forwards Gianluca Lapadula and Carlos Bacca, among others.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio (via the Daily Star), the Toffees are keen to strengthen their attack this season and could also enquire about M'Baye Niang.

Several Inter Milan players are also reportedly on the club’s radar, including Ever Banega, Marcelo Brozovic and Jeison Murillo.

Everton certainly appear set for a busy summer, with Ronald Koeman needing to strengthen ahead of a Europa League campaign.

Jim White of Sky Sports is also expecting plenty of arrivals at Goodison Park this summer:

The Toffees may also lose a couple of their key men. Ross Barkley is still to extend his contract that expires next summer and could be sold, according to Andy Hunter of The Guardian.

The midfielder has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, but Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports believes his price tag may prove a problem:

Top scorer Romelu Lukaku is another player expected to leave and has said that he has already made his decision on his future, per Sky Sports News HQ.

Tancredi Palmeri of beIN Sports believes the striker will rejoin Chelsea and reported a deal is close but talks are continuing:

Lukaku scored 25 Premier League goals in 37 games for Everton last season, per WhoScored.com, and a replacement will undoubtedly be needed if Koeman's men are to continue to progress.

Carlos Bacca's future at AC Milan also seems in doubt after the club splashed out on Andre Silva, and the Colombian's agent has indicated he has received plenty of offers, per Ian Holyman at ESPN.

However, Bacca would surely only be a short-term fix. He turns 31 in September, but he will be looking for regular playing time ahead of next summer's World Cup in Russia.

Lapadula is another option and has been making the headlines recently, scoring a hat-trick on his international debut in an 8-0 win over San Marino, which he revealed was an honour:

The 27-year-old made the most of his opportunity, with coach Giampiero Ventura forced to pick an inexperienced side as the game took place just days before the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Juventus. 

Lapadula has had something of a journeyman career having been sent out on loan six times since 2010. However, eight goals in 12 Serie A starts for AC Milan last season appears to have aroused interest from around Europe.

If Lukaku is indeed on his way out of Everton this summer, a quality replacement will be needed as Koeman aims to build on a seventh-placed finish in his first season in charge of the club.