Everton have run rule over Maxime Esteve several times

Everton are reportedly keen on signing 22-year-old French defender Maxime Esteve from Burnley in the summer transfer window.

According to a report from Football Insider, Everton have identified 22-year-old Burnley defender Maxime Esteve as a replacement for Jarrad Brathwaite, who has been linked with an exit from the Merseyside club. The Toffees have scouted the Frenchman multiple times this season.

The Everton defender is one of the best young players in the Premier League, and several top clubs are keen on securing his signature. Everton will have to replace him adequately if he moves on.

Meanwhile, Esteve has done quite well in the Championship this season, and the 22-year-old would be a quality addition for the Toffees.

The opportunity to move to the Premier League could be quite exciting for the player and he will certainly be excited about the possibility of playing for a big club like Everton.

The Toffees have shown tremendous improvement since the arrival of David Moyes, and they will be hoping to build on it and push for a top-half place next year. They need to add to the squad in the summer, and replacing their key players will be a priority.

It remains to be seen whether Branthwaite decides to move on in the summer. He is certainly good enough to play for the best clubs in the world, and he will want to join a club capable of fighting for major trophies.

Esteve could fancy Everton move

Meanwhile, the move to the Premier League will be a major step up for the 22-year-old Burnley defender, and he will want to compete in the top flight next year. He has proven himself in the Championship, and he has the quality to do well in the Premier League as well.

It will be interesting to see if Everton can secure an agreement with Burnley for the talented young defender in the coming weeks.

Everton have the bones of a very good squad and they could do really well next season with a couple of intelligent additions in the summer. Signing a quality central defender should be one of their priorities.

Esteve has been linked with West Ham as well, and they need defensive reinforcements. They have been quite poor at the back this season. It remains to be seen whether they can beat the Toffees to his signature.