Everton previously completed a record signing during the January transfer window(Image: James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)

Everton made Morgan Schneiderlin their most expensive January signing in 2017, but his time at the club was tinged with regret. He had emerged as one of the Premier League’s leading defensive midfielders at Southampton and still carried much of that reputation when joining Ronald Koeman’s ambitious squad in a deal rising to £24million.

Schneiderlin’s performances at Southampton had previously caught Manchester United’s attention. The midfielder was snapped up by Louis van Gaal in 2015, making 39 appearances across his debut season, which culminated in the club winning the FA Cup.

His impact at United came to a halt under new boss Jose Mourinho, who used the midfielder only 8 times before allowing him to leave in January. Everton had been tracking his situation and completed a high-profile transfer, which reunited him with former Saints boss Koeman, but Schneiderlin later deemed the move a mistake.

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