Middlesbrough have jumped to the head of the queue to sign Ingolstadt defender Marcel Tisserand.
Everton and Saint Etienne have both been linked with the 24-year-old, but according to L’Equipe the centre-back is in advanced talks with Boro over a £6.3 million move.
Tisserand joined the German side a year ago from Monaco for around £5m, but he wants to leave after the club were relegated from the Bundesliga last season.
The DR Congo international, who has previously been monitored by Arsenal, has been left out of first-team training until his future is decided.