Everton made a late move to sign Real Betis forward Ezzalzouli Abde during the summer transfer window, according to Catalan outlet Mundo Deportivo.
The Toffees submitted a proposal worth €43m (£37m), including bonuses, to secure the services of the 24-year-old Moroccan winger.
The bid was structured with a guaranteed fee of €35m, with the remaining €8m made up of performance-related add-ons.
Real Betis firmly rejected the approach, insisting that Abde would only leave for the full amount of his €60m (£51m) release clause.
The Spanish club’s position was strengthened by the fact that Abde’s existing contract runs until 2029, leaving them in no rush to sell.
After seeing their opening bid turned down, Everton did not return with an improved offer, and the deal collapsed entirely.
Crystal Palace and Newcastle United were also credited with interest in signing Abde, highlighting the widespread Premier League attention he attracted.
Abde’s appeal is easy to understand after he contributed 15 goals and 10 assists across 43 appearances in all competitions last season for Real Betis.
Those impressive numbers helped Real Betis qualify for the Champions League, and Abde also earned a place in Morocco’s World Cup squad before injury ruled him out of the tournament.
A right-footed left-winger by trade, Abde is known for his pace, close control, ability to beat defenders in tight areas, and his work rate without the ball.
The failure to sign Abde left Everton short in wide areas, particularly after Iliman Ndiaye’s departure to Manchester City created a gap in David Moyes’ squad.
Everton had already brought in Brennan Johnson and Tyrique George earlier in the summer to strengthen the frontline, but a replacement winger remained a priority.
Ultimately, Moyes’ side turned to Jack Grealish on deadline day, securing the Manchester City winger on a loan deal to plug the gap left by Ndiaye’s exit.