OPINION
Everton need to begin planning for life after Leighton Baines at Goodison Park with the left-back on the decline and they should consider breaking the bank to sign Fulham sensation Ryan Sessegnon.
The Daily Mirror previously reported in 2017 that the Toffees director of football Steve Walsh had cast his eye over the teenage defender, with the chief renowned for spotting top talents from his time at Leicester City.
He would be the perfect heir to Baines’ throne in defence and the English left-back is being tipped for greatness.
Sessegnon has made 59 senior appearances already for Fulham and his tally of 14 goals shows the attacking edge he has to his game.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Fulham are set to keep hold of the 17-year-old during the January transfer window, but that a departure is expected in the summer for a potential British record fee.
The report details that Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool are in the race for his signature.
However, Everton should nudge their Premier League rivals aside with their own move and the temptation of regular first-team football at Goodison Park should work in their favour.
The Merseyside club are now in a position where they can spend big on players and should invest in a future superstar.
Sessegnon is a left-sided flyer that is starring in the Championship at full-back, but also has the versatility to be deployed further forward.
Everton manager Sam Allardyce needs to find a successor to Baines as current option Cuco Martina is too suspect defensively.
Fulham’s wonderkid is being tracked by England’s giants due to the levels of his performance and vast quality, which is why the Toffees should lay down a marker by trying to sign him.