After failing to secure a playmaker in the transfer window, Everton are looking at French star Yoann Gourcuff, according to the Liverpool Echo and Toffeeweb.

The 29-year-old is a free agent after calling time on an injury-hit spell with French giants Lyon, while Newcastle United are also believed to be interested.

The Frenchman made 90 appearances in his five years with Lyon, scoring 14 goals.

The midfielder has been capped 31 times by France at senior level and has also had spells at Milan, Bordeaux and Rennes.

Gourcuff was named the French Player of the Year in 2009 but injuries have blighted the majority of his career, while his spell with the Rossoneri went badly wrong due to his behaviour, according to Paolo Maldini.

“Gourcuff in Milan was 100% wrong. His problem here was his behavior. He was not intelligent in the manner of managing himself. When he played here, he did not want to make himself available to the group. He did not start to study Italian immediately.” said Maldini.

Roberto Martinez’s top target in the transfer window was a no.10 but deals for Andriy Yarmolenko and Bernard never got off the ground, and Evertonians were left bemused as to why a midfield maestro didn’t arrive at Goodison Park.

Gourcuff is undoubtedly talented but his injury record and temperament make him a risk, and it remains to be seen if Martinez makes a serious move for him.