Three stand-out performers Everton should sign from Euro 2016

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Axel Witsel (Belgium and Zenit Saint Petersburg)

Witsel has been a key member of the Belgium squad over the past few years and helped balance a side which also contains the likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.

The Zenit St Petersburg midfielder is often deployed as one of two holding midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation, but has plenty of energy to get forward and score an occasional goal. One needs to look no further for an example than the header he netted against the Republic of Ireland in the second group game.

He has made 106 appearances for Zenit where he won a Russian League title in 2015. The chances are that he will not come cheaply, having cost the Russian side € 40 million from Benfica in 2012.

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Even so, Everton should be well backed by Iranian businessman Farhad Moshiri who bought 49.9 per cent of the club a couple of months ago, while the Premier League TV money will be higher than ever before.

Garth Barry has been a regular figure in the Toffees’ midfield over the last few campaigns, but at 35 he is understandably past his best and Witsel could be the ideal replacement.