Everton are weighing up a summer move for Sheffield Wednesday ace George Hirst, according to a Liverpool Echo report.
The newspaper reports that the Toffees had a bid rejected for the 18-year-old striker in January, but they could reignite their interest this summer as they look to further strengthen their Under-23s Premier League 2 title winning side.
Everton’s chief Under-23s scout Jamie Hoyland has admitted that the club are keeping an eye on the youngster, although he refused to say if he had a summer bid planned.
Speaking on Sheffield Live TV, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo, Hoyland said: “We were interested in him earlier on this season, I’ll admit it, we put a little bid in to Sheffield Wednesday [in January] but [they said] no way.
“Unfortunately for George, Wednesday have signed more and more centre forwards so it might be best to go and get some league football and develop in professional football, in the men’s game.
“Forty goals, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing, you’re scoring 40 goals, so now you’ve left that behind you, your youth football, go and prosper now and show people what you can do in the real game.”
Hirst made his senior debut last season, as he came on as a late substitute in Wednesday’s 2-1 League Cup defeat to Cambridge United in September 2016.
He also featured in the 2-1 Championship loss at Reading, but those are currently the only two senior appearances to his name.
The 18-year-old is highly-rated by the England youth set-ups, and has been capped on five occasions by the Under-20s outfit where he has scored four goals.
The young striker enjoyed a superb 2016-17 campaign and a goal for England’s Under-20s in the Toulon Tournament against Japan marked his 40th strike of the season for club and country, as reported by the Sheffield Star.
Hirst was also capped nine times by the Under-18s and seven times by the Under-17s in the past.