Cuco Martina is close to a return after being sidelined with the knee problem which stopped a summer move out of Everton.
But a switch for the defender in the January transfer window remains up in the air.
The full-back was ready to leave Goodison after being told he did not feature in Marco Silva's plans but his hopes of an exit were dashed by injury sustained in training.
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Martina escaped the need for surgery but the issue has kept him out of action since August and he is only now eyeing a return to training with the club's under-23s.
The 30-year-old, who will enter the final six months of his contract in the New Year, needs to build up match fitness if he is to land a move in the winter window but given the extent of his absence through injury, it is not certain - at this stage - if he will be ready for a transfer.
Martina will not rush into making a decision about this next step and could wait until his contract runs out in the summer, if he is not fully ready in January.
It is thought that the Ronald Koeman signing will follow Oumar Niasse's example and play a handful of games for Everton's u-23s in order to aid his match fitness.
Niasse, also coming into the last six months of his deal, is looking to land a loan move in January and has played in the last two games for David Unsworth's side.
