Everton target Vlasic given permission to leave Croatia under-21 training

Everton's chances of signing Hajduk Split midfielder Nikola Vlasic received a boost after the teenager was given permission to leave national team duty with Croatia's under-21 side.

Everton are interested in the 19-year-old, whom manager Ronald Koeman got to see first hand in their recent Europa League qualifier, and on Monday Hajduk club president Ivan Kos admitted they could sell their prize asset before Thursday's deadline.

In a tweet the Croatia Football Federation confirmed Vlasic had on Tuesday asked permission to leave the squad.

"The U-21 national team's coach, Nenad Gracan, accepted the request of Nikola Vlasic and freed him of this representative action," they said.

When asked about a possible Everton bid Kos told Split newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija: "The transfer window runs until Aug. 31, sometimes transfers happen a minute before midnight.

"We don't want to lose one percent of our quality. We also have to think about financial stability."