Everton boss David Moyes is determined to strengthen his engine room and add at least one additional face in that area of the team.
Despite having persuaded Idrissa Gueye to sign a new deal for at least one more year, Moyes knows the 36-year-old Senegal star cannot go forever, and he only really has James Garner, who has plenty of Premier League experience and could possibly fill in for Gueye.
Of the other current midfielders, Tim Iroegbunam is still a work in progress, and Harrison Armstrong, although very talented and promising, is young and untested in the English top flight.
Abdoulaye Doucoure, of course, left the club, and although his powers and effectiveness were waning, he had a lot of experience and was a versatile midfielder.
Plenty of midfield targets have been identified in the media, and Everton have been linked with a number of individuals, as they have in so many other areas.
Two names keep popping up at the moment: Douglas Luiz and Jacob Ramsey, with the Toffees said to be tracking both these players.
But as usual, there are other clubs credited with an interest in these two, as Nottingham Forest and West Ham United are also keeping tabs on them.
Further reports claim the Blues are genuinely interested in Luiz, who looks certain to leave Juventus this summer, despite only joining the Serie A club last year.
This has been a funny transfer window so far, with Everton benefiting from new owners who have stabilized the club financially and were apparently ready to provide some significant money this summer to enable Moyes to invest in an improved and better quality squad.
However, despite all this, the club has still only added two new outfield players and a reserve goalkeeper to that paper-thin squad as the club jets out to the US for their American leg of preseason.
And while rumours come and go and other clubs move to sign the talent they want, the Toffees appear to be slow to act, and very little concrete seems to be happening.
Luiz has missed training at Juve, and seems to be looking to conclude a transfer deal to one or other Premier League club. Everton must ensure they can win this race as the need for new talent is urgent.
The Brazilian has not enjoyed a great campaign in Italy, but he was a huge success in England with Aston Villa, scoring nine goals in his last season, and certainly has the tools to add plenty to the Blues' midfield. So, can Everton make the breakthrough and secure the additional midfielder they need?