Everton have reportedly moved ahead of Aston Villa and Leeds United in the chase for Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul, whose first France call-up has lifted his profile before January.

Premier League clubs track Lepaul

TEAMtalk claims Everton, Leeds and Villa all checked on the 26-year-old over the summer and still monitor him, with the Toffees showing the strongest interest.

Everton’s need is obvious, as Thierno Barry is their only senior centre-forward. Leeds are weighing a midseason attacking addition, although Daniel Farke already has options. Villa signed Nicolas Jackson in the summer, but a sluggish start could prompt Unai Emery to revisit the market.

Lepaul’s rapid rise

Lepaul was playing in France’s fifth tier as recently as 2022. The Lyon academy product scored ten Ligue 1 goals for Angers before joining Rennes in 2025, then hit 20 in his first season in Brittany. He has added three in five league games this term, earning a call-up from new France boss Zinedine Zidane.

Rennes handed him a long-term contract this summer, running until 2030.

Our take

That new deal puts Rennes firmly in control, so any buyer will need to pay handsomely. Everton make the most sense on need alone, but Leeds and Villa can offer their own selling points. A January move looks plausible, though it may hinge on whether Rennes see a profit too tempting to ignore.