According to James Ayles of the Mail Online, Everton are interested in Joe Gelhardt and could battle Liverpool for his signature. The 17-year-old has recently broken into the Wigan Athletic first-team and made his senior debut for the Latics against Barnsley on Saturday, August 31. He’d been an unused substitute in two of Wigan’s five Championship outings prior to that.
Everton strengthened well in the transfer market this summer, bringing in Moise Kean to accompany Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Cenk Tosun in attack, but Marcel Brands is on the hunt for another striker. Gelhardt would likely slot into their u18s for a season before moving up to the u23s. And if he continued progressing, he might catch the eye of Marco Silva.
The Toffees will have to sign him first, however, which could prove a difficult task given he’s said to have generated a lot of Premier League interest. Gelhardt was recently called up to the England u18 squad too, so Wigan will know his value. He’s contracted with the Latics until 2021, so Athletic hold all the cards currently.
Whether Everton can beat Liverpool among others to his signature remains to be seen too.