Toffees ready to step up Taylor interest

Everton will step up their interest in Steven Taylor should Jonny Heitinga leave for Bayern Munich.

The Everton defender recently revealed his delight at being linked with German giants Bayern Munich, saying: "I'd definitely be interested in joining them. They play Champions League football and I'm still eligible to play in the competition, since we don't play European football with Everton.

"Every footballer wants to reach the top. So this could be the right moment."

Heitinga moved to Goodison last season and has since become a fans' favourite at the club - and talkSPORT revealed last month that David Moyes is intent on blocking any move for the Dutch defender.

But if Heitinga, 27, does manage to engineer a move to Germany then Moyes will turn his attentions to Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor.

Taylor is still a couple of weeks away from a full recovery following a dislocated shoulder but his future at St James' Park remains in doubt.

The 24-year-old was close to leaving the club earlier this summer but chose to stay following a training ground altercation with Andy Carroll.

Moyes is a long term admirer of Taylor and if he does lose Heitinga he will move for the former England Under-21 international.