Everton have been linked to 16-year-old Rotherham centre half Harrison Duncan, according to Alan Nixon.
While the source itself should be taken with a pinch of salt, a move for a young centre half would make a lot of sense for Everton. The club has been active in the u18s market in recent years with Braiden Graham, Cieran Loney, Will Tamen and Justin Clarke all arriving at the club in the past 12 months.
Duncan himself ticks a lot of boxes. At just 16 he has impressed at youth level, where he has scored 11 goals from central defence. At six-foot-three he towers above his teammates and has been described as the new John Stones thanks to his ability to also play in midfield.
Duncan was linked to Manchester City and West Ham in September but Nixon says Everton are now keen to take him on trial to see if he can make the step up.
Everton are in need of centre backs to fill out the youth teams. Reece Welch is expected to leave the club in the summer, leaving just Will Tamen and Bradley Moonan, who is currently on loan at Prescot Cables, as the only u21 defenders. Aled Thomas and Luca Davies, who played for the u18s in the Bramley Moore test event, have played for the u21s but will need more work to make the step up permanently.
It leaves Everton with just three senior centre halves and two u21s in the summer and new recruitment will be a priority.
According to the Rotherham Advertiser, Duncan was spotted by a casual scout playing for Doncaster City playing in non league. Then manager Steve Evans invited him to a trial and his staff insisted on signing him.
He said: ““Harrison was very, very good, I then handed it to the academy,” the boss said. “You have to let the judgement and process go from there with (academy manager) Richard Hairyes and his staff.
“Within two sessions they were ringing up saying: ‘We’ve got to get this kid signed.’”
Like Will Tamen, Duncan has already appeared for the first team in the EFL Cup. It follows similar moves for young players who have made first team strides. Braiden Graham had already played – and scored – for Linfield in Northern Ireland, Cieran Loney played for Partick Thistle and Justin Clarke made his AFC Wimbledon debut before signing for Everton.