Everton have had an offer of £8million for Thomas Delaney turned down by Werder Bremen.
The Liverpool Echo reports that the German club have rejected the improved offer from the Toffees, who look set to miss out on the 25-year-old midfielder.
Delaney only joined Bremen from FC Copenhagen this month but Everton, who unsuccessfully went him in the summer, still felt they could do business before he made an appearance for the club.
But the Denmark international debuted in the Bundesliga on the weekend against Borussia Dortmund.
Everton's pursuit of Delaney now looks dead in the water.