David Moyes is a known admirer of his fellow countryman, who has thrived at Villa Park and has become a key player in the Birmingham club's team before his time on the pitch declined in the last campaign.
Villa are under severe financial pressure this summer and are striving to avoid falling foul of PSR rules, which Everton, of course, know all about from the season before last.
As a result, Villa may well have to consider further player sales, even though Jacob Ramsey is leaving, to ensure they avoid the repercussions, such as points deductions.
Meanwhile, the Everton manager is still looking for further reinforcements before the transfer window closes at the beginning of September.
One area of his side that Moyes is still keen to strengthen, if he can, is centre midfield. At the moment, the Toffees have a shortage of experienced choices there, especially defensive players, after the departure of Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Currently, the only acknowledged specialist defensive midfielder is Idrissa Gueye. The veteran signed a new one-year deal this summer, although he will be absent mid-season during the Africa Cup of Nations.
Additionally, although Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has signed, one of Everton's other midfielders, youngster Harrison Armstrong, is currently injured, leaving the engine room still short of enough numbers.
So, the Blues have been linked with several other midfield players, and John McGinn was one of them, alongside others such as Wilfred Ndidi and Douglas Luiz, who now appears to be heading for Nottingham Forest.
The Toffees' initial offer for McGinn was rejected by Villa, and that looked like the end of it. But now there are suggestions that Everton will make another bid for him before the window closes.
Looking at McGinn's profile, the Scot is certainly a very versatile player who can operate across the midfield, with arguably his best position being wide on the left side.
On the face of it, that might not be what the Blues need as they have just signed Dewsbury-Hall, who can operate there and is left-footed too.
McGinn is a solid all-round midfielder with good attacking abilities, and his experience and nous would certainly improve Everton's team and give Moyes another quality option in the centre of the pitch.
Having said that, if the Toffees are to add another midfielder, then ideally they need another specialist defensive type to support and possibly replace Gueye.
It is probable that a fee of around £20-25 million would be enough to get the deal done, most likely at the end of the transfer window. Will the Blues be able to afford that if they have added another two or three other signings over the next few weeks?