Linfield could be in line for a multi-million pound windfall with Everton reportedly considering a £20million move for Trai Hume in the closing stages of this summer’s transfer window.

Hume departed the Blues for Sunderland in January 2022 after making 21 Premiership appearances – the defender also racked up further senior experience during a loan spell at hometown club Ballymena United.

The 24-year-old has developed into one of the Black Cats’ most consistent players and has helped them scale the English pyramid from League One to the Premier League.

Hume featured in all 38 of Sunderland’s top flight matches last term as they qualified for the Europa League, marking their European return for the first time since 1973, and scored in a 2-1 win over Chelsea on the final day.

placeholder image — Northern Ireland's Trai Hume is the subject of transfer interest from Everton. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

He has previously received transfer interest from across England and Europe, but last August agreed a new long-term contract which was set to keep him at the Stadium of Light until 2030.

However, Everton have now seemingly emerged as contenders for Hume’s services with ESPN reporting the Toffees are “attempting to seal a £20 million deal before the transfer deadline”.

ESPN claim Sunderland “are prepared to offload their vice-captain following interest from Everton and clubs in Spain and Germany”, but reports from elsewhere have said the club “have no desire to see Hume move on”.

It’s understood Linfield inserted a 15% sell-on clause as part of Hume’s transfer, which means the Windsor Park club could bank £3million if his move to Goodison Park came to fruition over the coming days.

Hume has been a trusted member of manager Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland squad with the boss saying during pre-season: "Trai is a good example of a really good player, a strong team-mate, always working hard for the team."

Everton manager David Moyes has made no secret of his desire to add further players to his squad – they’ve been linked with another move for Manchester City’s Jack Grealish.

"We definitely need to continue to make additions, that's for sure,” he said. "We thought the squad was quite thin last year, and at the moment, if you take the way the numbers work, we are still one down from where we were even last year.

"I still think we are short in the squad and I still think we are short in quality in some places and I need to try and add that."