Villarreal have reportedly considered the possibility of recalling Arnaut Danjuma back from his loan spell at Everton.
The Dutch forward has hardly had a look-in at Goodison Park under Sean Dyche this season, following his loan move in July.
While the 26-year-old started five out of six games between late August and late September, he has found game time extremely hard to come by in a blue shirt this season.
Danjuma's last league start came in mid-September against Arsenal, and he has been a substitute in the 12 games that have followed, playing just 50 minutes in four cameo appearances.
Despite their extremely threadbare squad, Dyche has opted to go with Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison in the wide areas over the past three months, leaving Danjuma out in the cold.
The signing of Beto means that he is unlikely to get a start in a central striking role should Dominic Calvert-Lewin pick up an injury, while Dyche also preferred youngster Lewis Dobbin off the bench in their previous two Premier League outings.
His parent club Villarreal have had a turbulent start to the season, with the La Liga club now on their third permanent manager of the season.
Danjuma was allowed to leave in August when Quique Setien was at the helm, but he was sacked just weeks later in early September.
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Pacheta came in as his replacement, but lasted just two months, with Marcelino now back for a second spell at the club, following his first between 2013 and 2016.
Finding themselves in 15th, it has been a troubling start for the Yellow Submarine, and activity in the January transfer window is likely.
Ben Brereton Diaz was one of the club's new signings over the summer, but since Marcelino arrived in mid-November, the Chilean has started just once - in the Europa League against Maccabi Haifa.
The former Blackburn Rovers man is yet to register a goal or an assist in 19 games this season, and he could be on his way out of the club next month.
However, instead of dipping into the market for a new attacker, Cadena SER claims Marcelino may look at recalling Danjuma to replace Brereton Diaz.
Yeremy Pino is also out with a serious long-term knee injury, so that could further enhance the likelihood of Danjuma returning to the Estadio de la Ceramica in January.
In just 18 months with Villarreal, Danjuma scored 22 goals, including six in the Champions League, and with a new manager now in charge, he could be offered a new lease of life at the club.
Until January though, Danjuma will remain an Everton player, and he could potentially face one of his former clubs at the weekend, when Everton travel to Tottenham Hotspur, the club where he spent the second half of last season on loan.
