Everton expect academy product Fraser Hornby to secure a loan deal with Belgian Jupiler Pro League side KV Kortrijk by the end of the week, according to Football Insider.
The Blues have fielded a number of calls from English Football League and Scottish sides registering their interest in the 6 ft 3 striker this month, after awarding Hornby the green light to secure a temporary transfer as Marco Silva is unlikely to offer a great first-team role to the Under 23s star this season.
Kortrijk have leapt to the front of the queue, though, and the Northampton-born ace is understood to have already packed his bags and flown out to Belgium to hold discussions with the Guldensporen Stadion natives.
Everton are understood to be hopeful that Hornby’s potential season in the Belgian top-flight will return valuable first-team experience that would not be on offer on Merseyside, with De Kerels currently 6th in the Jupiler Pro League on seven points after the opening four games of the term.
After the market closed to English Championship sides alongside Premier League outfits on August 8, sending Hornby abroad is a promising sign that the club are on the right path with Hornby’s development.
Another year in our junior set-up would not prove anything more about the 19-year-old that Silva, Director of Football Marcel Brands and U23s head coach David Unsworth do not already know about the Northampton Town product.
Seeing how he fares with first-team football will be a huge indicator to how much he can offer us next season upon his return, as competition for places will be fraught if Moise Kean turns some of his potential into results and Silva continues to place his trust in Dominic Calvert-Lewin.