Everton have triggered Idrissa Gueye’s release clause at Aston Villa. Ronald Koeman’s club have bid £7.1m for the Senegal midfielder as the manager aims to make his first major signing of the summer.

Gueye is attracting attention from elsewhere, with a return to France possible, and Everton face competition with more bids expected.

Koeman has only signed the goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg from Fulham for an undisclosed fee since moving from Southampton in June. The former Leicester assistant manager Steve Walsh joined as director of football last week, which is now likely to signal the green light for Everton in the transfer market.

Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic is also reportedly a target as Everton look to improve on last season’s 11th-placed finish that cost Roberto Martínez his job.

Gueye is one of the first they have moved for and the Villa chief executive, Keith Wyness, who used to work at Everton, insisted the relegated side want to keep him, even if the 26-year-old is likely to leave.

He tweeted: “Re idrissa gueye, we do not welcome any interest in this player from any club fightlikelions”.

Gueye joined Villa for around £9m from Lille last summer and made 38 appearances, scoring once, as Villa were relegated from the Premier League, winning just three games.

The new Villa manager, Roberto Di Matteo, is trying to trim his squad after they dropped out of the top flight for the first time since 1987. They begin their Championship campaign at Sheffield Wednesday on 7 August.

Jordan Amavi and Jordan Veretout have also been linked with moves, while Brad Guzan is expected to join Middlesbrough.