Marco Silva is “hopeful” of signing Kurt Zouma on a permanent deal and says the defender could be one of five more additions to the Everton squad.
The Blues kicked-off their summer business by bringing in goalkeeper Jonas Lossl on a free transfer before Andre Gomes joined in a £22m move from Barcelona.
Zouma is the next prime target and Silva has made no secret of his desire to land the France international.
But the Everton manager has once again stressed that the club have lined up alternatives to 24-year-old Zouma.
“I am hopeful,” Silva told the ECHO.
“I think I am hopeful like all of our fans are but I have to tell you that we have different solutions because we cannot just have one solution. I have different solutions in my mind but I am hopeful and if we can give our fans this fantastic feeling it will be key.
"But, if not, we have to go in a different way but it is part of the market, part of creating a squad.
“After that position we have three or four more to strengthen.”
Silva said turning the loan moves of Zouma and Gomes into permanent switches was vital to his plans for the next season.
Everton are now working hard to bring the Chelsea defender back to Goodison after sealing Gomes' return last month.
“Fantastic, fantastic news for us, I have no doubts about that,” Silva said of Gomes' capture.
“Not just because we sign a fantastic football player but also a fantastic professional, a fantastic lad who really enjoyed last season with us.
"Our fans, they love him, and it is really important we sign players that make our fans really happy because, at the end, this relationship will make a big difference, this connection with the players.
“It was my aim when I finished the season to keep the level and until now we have signed Andre and you know what is in my mind also, and it will be really important if we achieve that and after we have the three or four positions to strengthen our squad also.”
