Everton appear to have cooled their interest in Emmanuel Dennis as they seek a replacement for Richarlison this summer, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Toffees alongside West Ham and newly promoted club Nottingham Forest have been in the race for the sought-after Watford winger.
But according to The Athletic, the Blues have their eyes on other targets other than the Nigerian currently valued at £25m.
This comes after Forest opted to sign Jesse Lingard ahead of the 24-year-old who scored 10 goals and made six assists in 33 Premier League games last season for Watford who were relegated to the English Championship.
The former Club Brugges forward still has four years left to run on his contract at Vicarage Road.
Meanwhile, Watford coach, Rob Edwards, has admitted that he will rate Dennis the same way as the rest of his squad ahead of the Hornets’ 2022/23 Championship opener against Sheffield United on August 1.
“There’s no obligation to play Dennis and Ismaila Sarr but if I see the commitment and a good attitude and a real focus, then they are two excellent players who will help us win games.
“My job is to build a positive culture and a winning environment. Once we do that, then my job is to pick the best team I can in order to win games of football.
“While both lads are here and committed, then they will be at the forefront of my mind because they are vowed, vowed good players. They can help us win games.”
“It’s always tough approaching a season when you have players whose futures are unsure still at the club.”
However, having the likes of Dennis and Sarr going into the Championship means Edwards has to consider using them whilst they’re at the club because there’s no doubt they have the ability to make the side better.
That being said, Edwards is trying to build a positive environment at Vicarage Road after last season and if the players show they’re not committed to the cause then the manager won’t be afraid to leave them out of the squad either.