Everton are lining up a January bid for Nottingham Forest full-back Matty Cash, according to The Sun as cited by HITC.
Cash has been in fine form at the City Ground this term after head coach Sabri Lamouchi converted the natural wide-midfielder into a right-back, with the 22-year-old showing himself to be a forward-thinking dynamo in defence.
Lamouchi was forced to look elsewhere in his Forest ranks for a right-back early into the campaign, after losing £3million summer signing from Arsenal Carl Jenkinson through an ankle injury.
Cash has since stepped up to the challenge more than adequately, and often looks at home in the Forest backline as one of his side’s best performers of the season so far.
No player has created more goals for Forest this season than Cash, Joe Lolley and Tiago Silva have manage, with the trio credited with two assists each after 15 Championship games.
Only striker Lewis Grabban and Lolley have scored more goals than Cash, as well, with the young prospect firing home twice in his 14 second-tier outings.
Cash’s performances are thought to have attracted Premier League interest with scouts from Everton, Crystal Palace and Southampton all said to have descended on the City Ground to cast judgment on the Forest product.
Our scouts are said to have been particularly impressed by Slough-born Cash’s versatility, having also played in central and wide right and left midfield positions last season.
The board are even lining up a £12million January bid for Cash, per the reports, while Southampton and Palace continue to keep tabs on his progress in the Championship.
Where do we need to improve in January?
Goalkeeper
Defence
Midfield
Forwards
Cash has offered Lamouchi a resolute defender as well as a marauding option in attack this season, as the 6ft prospect recorded 11 tackles in one game against Luton Town earlier this month, and penned 12 clearances against Leeds United and 10 at home to Brentford earlier in the campaign.
Only twice has the 22-year-old not managed to record a successful tackle in a Championship match this term, and is averaging 3 tackles, 1.6 interceptions, 1.9 blocks, 0.9 successful dribbles and 0.9 key passes per ninety minutes, per WhoScored data.