Everton are planning a fresh bid for Porto captain Ivan Marcano in January – after failing with a pre-deadline swoop for the central defender.
Goodison boss Ronald Koeman hoped to add the Spaniard to his squad, and club officials held talks with their Portuguese opposite numbers.
The two clubs were unable to reach agreement before the transfer window closed on August 31.
However, according to Portuguese news outlet A Bola, the Toffees will return for 30-year-old Marcano in January – when he will be available for a cut-price fee.
The defender’s contract is due to expire next summer, and his Primeira Liga club will readily accept a nominal £2million for him.
Porto hope their skipper will sign a new contract, but he is tempted by the prospect of a move to England.
Marcano joined Porto in 2014. He began his career with hometown club Racing Santander, and has since played for Villarreal, Getafe, Greek giants Olympiacos and Russians Rubin Kazan.
Able to operate at left-back as well as in central defence, he has won two league titles and a cup in Greece as well as the Russian Super Cup.
He won an Under-21 cap for Spain in 2009.
Koeman is a keen student of Portuguese football from his spell as Benfica coach 11 years ago, when he led the Lisbon club to the national Super Cup.
Everton are in the bottom half of the table going into Saturday’s clash with Tottenham at Goodison Park.
They sit in 12th spot, having picked up four points from their opening three games – losing 2-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge before the international break.