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Roberto Martinez, what have you done?

If there's one thing certain to send the rumour mill into overdrive, it's a statement suggesting your squad is shy of a couple of players in key areas.

And, after Martinez admitted Everton needed three more before the transfer window slams shut (it never eases shut or is gently put to, is it?) in September, our fine chums on the interweb and beyond have been quick to link the Blues with several players.

Most notably a centre-back, a playmaker and a striker, given what the Blues boss said was needed.

But it's a name we've heard before that is knocking around once again.

Everton are being informed they have received a boost in their apparent pursuit of Inter Milan midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri after Schalke passed up the chance of signing the Swiss chubster.

“Shaqiri is not of interest to us at the moment,” said Schalke coach Andre Breitenreiter (good name, by the way) to German publication Sport Bild.

“We don't even have meetings with him on our schedule.”

More Everton FC news today:

The fact Schalke may have such a schedule tickles us. Hopefully it's not a Google Doc and is instead an old-fashioned diary with 'Meetings with possible transfer targets' written on a sticker on the front.

Anyway, Newcastle United are said to also be tracking Shaqiri, although that would suggest somebody else is tracking him, which Schalke aren't and Everton may not be.

Hey, even Newcastle might not be. But that's the chance you take with the RUMOUR MILL.

A somewhat less well-known name to start doing the rounds is Verona midfielder Lazaros Christodoulopoulos.

According to Corriero dello Sport, the Greece international is on Everton's radar, despite struggling with injuries and form last season.

At the very least, if he signs then expect the club shop to do a roaring trade in letters on the back of his shirt.

And the ECHO to have lots of Lazaros-based puntastic headlines.

Who has been linked with a move to Everton this summer?