Everton will reorganise their defensive options in the wake of Phil Jagielka's departure.
The Blues are determined to reduce their squad numbers with Marco Silva wanting two players per outfield position.
And so it was confirmed on Tuesday that captain Jagielka will not be offered a new deal once his current one runs out at the end of the month.
The 36-year-old made only four starts last season and is to leave Goodison after 12 years.
Jagielka's departure has left Silva with only Michael Keane and Yerry Mina as senior centre-halves contracted to the club.
Twenty-two-year-old Mason Holgate, however, will return from his loan spell with West Brom and is expected to become another centre-half option for the Blues boss next term.
And Everton want to turn Kurt Zouma's loan from Chelsea into a permanent switch but the Stamford Bridge's transfer ban is complicating matters.
The Blues want four centre-backs in the squad and have alternatives to Zouma lined up but have made the French defender a priority signing this summer along with Andre Gomes.
Everton also want to add a right-back to their squad in the transfer market with Jonjoe Kenny looking increasingly likely to leave on loan.
Leighton Baines, meanwhile, is on course to sign a new one-year deal next week to continue as back-up to Lucas Digne.
The Blues, it is believed, have already started looking at younger left-backs they could potentially add to their ranks next summer when Baines' deal runs out.
Goalkeeper Jonas Lossl will officially join as a free agent on July 1 after being released by Huddersfield Town.
