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Everton's scouts have been clocking up the air miles over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Portuguese newspaper O Jogo revealed that Blues’ talent spotters were at Gil Vicente on Saturday to see Benfica win 5-0 – and expressed surprise that the Toffees had switched their attentions from usual Portuguese destinations Braga and Porto.

Braga’s 21-year-old Rafa Silva was put up as a ‘possible’ target, because Portuguese football ‘has become a hotbed for young talent coming through.’

Toffees scouts who drew the short straw were sent to Crystal Palace to ‘run the rule over winger Yannick Bolasie.’

‘Sources for SiaS’ (Sport In A Storm, apparently), claim that Roberto Martinez is ‘excited’ by the potential shown by the Congo international. Presumably he was less excited when Bolasie took Everton apart at Goodison Park last season.

According to the Daily Mail Jose Mourinho took time out from celebrating his latest title triumph to “keep an eye” on both John Stones and Seamus Coleman, with notional values of £30m and £20m attached to each player.

Significantly cheaper would be Bristol City left-back Joe Bryan, a 21-year-old named in the PFA’s League One team of the season and, according to The People, a player Everton have ‘set their sights on.’

That may be because out of contract Luke Garbutt has emerged as a “potential signing” for newly promoted Bournemouth.

Off The Post says that “As Garbutt is under 24, Bournemouth would have to pay the Toffees compensation and go through a tribunal if they want to sign him on a ‘free transfer’ but reports indicate the Cherries may look to make an offer to Everton rather than play out an episode of Suits.”

No. Nor us.

IN pictures: Rumoured Everton transfer targets