Everton have already signed two young players in this transfer window, with 20-year-old Nathan Patterson and 22-year-old Vitaliy Mykolenko joining the squad this week, and Rafa Benitez could be set to sign his next youngster.
What's the word?
The MailOnline has reported that Everton are keeping their eye on Nottingham Forest forward, Brennan Johnson after he has impressed in the Championship so far this season.
The report suggests that Forest would like to keep the youngster with them, but a large bid from a Premier League club would be hard to ignore, with both Brentford, Tottenham and West Ham also named as potential suitors for Johnson, with the Championship club reportedly setting a £14m valuation.
Johnson was once hailed by Glenn Murray speaking in an interview on Sky Sports:
“For me, Brennan, he just looks special. He just looks a cut above and he’s destined for the top."
The youngster's contract doesn't end with his current club until 2023, and Forest are currently chasing a playoff position, six points off the mark so they may feel that he is worth more to the club's future than an offer a club could make for him in the January transfer window.
Benitez must secure the signing
Johnson has been impressing Premier League clubs with his performances this season, with five goals and four assists for his Championship side in 25 appearances.
The youngster is no one-season wonder either, and enjoyed a successful 2020/21 season at Lincoln City during a loan spell, where he scored 13 goals and bagged 14 assists in 48 appearances, which sees his senior tally already at an inspiring 18 strikes.
Signing young players who can offer a future worth to their price tag should be a priority for the Everton manager, as he can change the path the Toffees have been on with reckless spending.
The club needs to continue to buy young players to build a team for the future that can develop together, bringing the average age of the team down, which is currently one of the highest in the league at an average of 28-years-old.
Benitez will have the opportunity to distract fans from the poor performances in the Premier League this season, by leading his side out at Goodison Park with a good performance in the FA Cup this weekend.
After that, they must ensure that Johnson becomes a member of their team. Blessed with plenty of potential, he certainly looks like a very attractive acquisition this winter.
In other news: Moshiri could go over Rafa’s head on Coutinho signing