Everton transfer BLOW! Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian leading race for Toffees target Nikola Kalinic

Tianjin Quanjian have leapfrogged Everton in the race for Fiorentina striker Nikola Kalinic.

The 28-year-old has scored 12 goals this season and is wanted by the Toffees, who failed with an approach for him in the summer.

Fiorentina, though, are playing hardball by informing clubs that they will not sell Kalinic unless someone coughs up his £42m release-clause.

That news has slowed down Everton's progress and now, according to Sky Sport Italia, to make matters worse they have been overtaken in the race for the Croatian by Tianjin Quanjian.

The Chinese side are desperate to sign a new attacker this January and they have plenty of cash to spend.

Kalinic is right at the top of their list of targets and they are now deep in negotiations with Fiorentina over a big-money move.