Everton are set to complete the transfer of young Newcastle ace Lewis Gibson “early next week”, according to the Mirror.
The news outlet have detailed on their live transfer blog (Saturday, 1.32pm) that the Toffees are closing in on a deal for the 16-year-old centre-back and that he is now set to travel to Merseyside in the coming days.
The report follows news outlet HITC claiming on their website on Friday that the Toffees had agreed a deal to sign the teenager from the Magpies.
Gibson has never made a senior appearance for Newcastle, but the player with one-year remaining on his contract at the club is highly rated and has already earned 16 caps for England at Under-17 level.
Everton, meanwhile won last season’s Premier League 2 with their youth team picking up 48 points from 22 matches and beating the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea to the crown.
It is now likely that Gibson himself will join up with David Unsworth’s side, rather than going straight into the first team and the club have already looked to bolster their youth ranks this summer with the additions of Nathangelo Markelo, Boris Mathis and Josh Bowler.
Meanwhile, Newcastle will see the loss of one of their brightest talents as a heavy blow.