Everton's chances of signing Hajduk Split midfielder Nikola Vlasic received a boost after the teenager was given permission to leave national team duty with Croatia's Under-21 side.
The Toffees are interested in the 19-year-old, whom manager Ronald Koeman got to see first hand in their recent Europa League qualifier, and on Monday Hajduk club president Ivan Kos admitted they could sell their prize asset before Thursday's deadline.
In a tweet the Croatia Football Federation confirmed Vlasic had on Tuesday asked permission to leave the squad.
"The U-21 national team's coach, Nenad Gracan, accepted the request of Nikola Vlasic and freed him of this representative action," they said.