Everton are plotting a summer move for teenage Derby County midfield sensation Will Hughes.
Boss Nigel Clough is trying to build an exciting young squad, but with Derby currently sitting 10th in the Championship table and looking likely to miss out on promotion they may not be able to turn away a bid should the right offer come in.
18 year old Hughes was an ever present in the Derby team until Februrary having made 37 consecutive appearances, when an injury forced him to miss matches. Hughes is out injured currently and Rams boss Clough may decide to rest Hughes for the rest of this season.
Hughes is attracting the interest of some of the Premier Leagues top clubs and Liverpool. Everton along with Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have all scouted Hughes this season, but the Merseyside club are likely to offer the best prospects of competitive football due to a lack of centre midfielders.
Much will depend on the future of Everton manager David Moyes and his summer transfer budget but bidding is likely to start at £4m. The club believe that youth is the answer with the club also interested in Leeds United youngster Sam Byram.
£4mil – you must be joking. You wouldn’t buy his boots for that. If its less than £10mil then don’t bother
What a joke. January prices quoted to the top teams of £10M and you think you can get him for £4M. The Derby board will have lost their minds if anything in that region is accept for probably the best English talent coming through at the moment (I am including Tom Ince and Wilfred Zaha in that statement, both can be very hit and miss)