The Catalan newspaper reported via their website on 26 February that the Camp Nou giants want to pay €40million [£34.2m] for the Belgian star but the Toffees want €60m [£51.3m].

That has left sports director Deco needing to come up with an alternative solution to convince Everton to do business, with a Barcelona player being included in a cash-plus-player exchange deal a conceivable option to get it done.

The La Liga giants Barca are battling in the competition since Arsenal and Manchester United are also interested in the 22-year-old, and both are reportedly able to pay the Toffees’ asking price.

Barcelona could send player to Everton to tip balance in Amadou Onana deal race

It is absolutely wishful thinking on Deco’s behalf if he thinks €40m will be enough to capture the Everton player, whether by convincing the club to part with him or defeating transfer competitors.

Were the former Lille man to depart there might be something to the idea of throwing him out of the Premier League in order to not face him in opposition.

But in the event that he is sold it would undoubtedly mean that the club can’t be too fussy about the destination when maximum recompense is the aim.

However, Onana has routinely been sized up for a move away ever since he arrived at Goodison Park two summers ago so if Sean Dyche can steer the club to top flight safety once more, which has become more likely with the return of four points but is certainly not guaranteed with a second hearing on the way, perhaps the midfielder goes nowhere.

Spending fell off a cliff in January after last summer’s spree but is expected to pick up again at the end of the season, so with Arsenal having spent £105m on Declan Rice from West Ham [Sky Sports, 17 July] and Chelsea agreeing to as much as £115m for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo [Guardian, 14 August] the idea that Onana moves for less than £35m looks absurd.

In other Everton news, a new ASAP demand has been issued by a Parliament chair in instance reaction to the appeal verdict coming out.

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