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Everton have been given fresh hope they could sign Dynamo Kiev's Andriy Yarmolenko in January.

The player's representatives were at Goodison on Wednesday night to watch the Blues face Manchester City in the Capital One Cup semi-final and the 26-year-old wants a move to the Premier League.

Everton failed in a summer move for the Ukraine star and were prepared to wait until the end of the season before making a second approach.

But it is understood that Blues chiefs now believe they can land him in the January window, and so are working hard to try and tie up a deal for the attacker.

Dynamo president Ihor Surkis had been unwilling to sell Yarmolenko until the end of the campaign after Kiev progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League but his stance has softened and the right offer may persuade him to sell.

Everton will have to pay in excess of £20m for the Ukraine international but believe they can steal a march on a host of other European clubs this month - ahead of the European Championships in June - by completing a deal early.

But any transfer remains at the discretion of Surkis who has proven himself to be among the toughest negotiators in European football and can be particular about who he sells Kiev's best players to.

Everton were confident a deal was close in the summer but despite their best attempts – and meeting with Kiev officials in Monaco – the transfer failed to materialise.