With the January transfer window close to opening, Everton manager Rafa Benitez has dropped an exciting hint on one piece of business that the Merseyside club could do in it.

What's the news?

When asked what the current situation is with Lewis Dobbin's contract and whether or not he will sign a new one before his current deal runs out in the summer, Benitez had this to say on the matter.

He said: "I think the player is quite happy and our conversations with him have been quite positive. I have confidence that he will be delighted to stay with us in the future."

As a product of Everton's youth academy, the winger has made a total of 52 combined appearances for their U18 and U23 sides, scoring 16 goals and providing 12 assists along the way.

Labelled as a player that has a "fantastic attitude towards being desperate to be an Everton player" in the past by David Unsworth, the 18-year-old has been on the fringes of Benitez's senior side this season with three Premier League appearances under his belt.

If Everton were able to secure Dobbin with a long-term deal next month, this would be a big boost and plus point not only for the player himself but for the Everton fans to potentially see another one of their youth players break into the first team and become a regular figure for them in the future, following in the footsteps of players such as Tom Davies, Jonjoe Kenny and Anthony Gordon.

If the youngster does sign a new deal in January and manages to take any opportunity he gets to play in the first team to impress Benitez, then this could be the start of a very exciting senior career for the teenager at Goodison Park, something that would understandably leave fans buzzing.

In addition to Dobbin's potential new deal, it would be worth Everton bringing some new players into the club as well, particularly in the defensive areas given how the Toffees have conceded 29 goals in 17 league games so far this season, more than the likes of Burnley, Brentford and Southampton.

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