Reports coming out of Belgium have claimed that Everton have failed in a bid to sign highly rated Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour.

Everton are one of a number of Premiership clubs who have been linked with Defour over the past few months, but it is understood that Standard will demand at least €15 million for the Belgian star.

Everton managed to sign Marouane Fellaini, one of their stars of last season, from Standard last summer, breaking their transfer record with a £15million deal, and it appears that they are looking to pick up another midfielder from the Belgian outfit.

The Belgian international impressed hugely for Liege both domestically and in Europe over the past season, and is rumoured to be leaving Belgium for a bigger league this summer.

Speaking to HLN in Belgium, Defour is said to have confirmed that a bid from Everton was turned down by his side.

"For now I wait quietly, I feel good at Standard, especially now we are in the Champions League," he said.

" I would be ready to move abroad, but the transfer will come when all parties are happy."

"How high was the bid? I do not know, you would need to ask Luciano D'Onofrio [Standard vice-president] that question," Defour told HLN.

Aston Villa and Liverpool are also known to be very keen on the young midfielder, but he has insisted he is in no hurry to depart the Belgian club, especially with the lure of Champions League football next season.