Everton have been strongly linked with a move for the free-scoring Sheffield Wednesday striker.
Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri
Dejphon Chansiri has hinted for the first time that Sheffield Wednesday are vulnerable to losing teenage striker George Hirst, who has been strongly linked with a move to Everton.
The Owls have yet to sell a single player against their will throughout Chansiri’s two-and-a-half-year ownership reign, while head coach Carvalhal told The Star in December: “The chairman says we will not sell players. Even if the press says that this club want this players or another, to me it doesn’t bother me because the chairman says he doesn’t want to sell the player.
“He was very strong with this sentence so I’m not worrying.”
When asked about Hirst’s future at Wednesday evening’s Steering Group meeting, however, Chansiri was much less assertive.
“We try to keep all our good players,” the Thai said as quoted by The Star. “We try to keep them but sometimes it is not just down to us. It depends on the player also.”
Hirst has been offered a new contract by Wednesday, having entered the final 15 months of his existing one at Hillsborough.
Chansiri’s comments cast further doubt over the player’s future, however, following the shock departure of Hirst’s father and Owls legend David from his role at the club.
Everton have been busy strengthening their youth ranks this season, with new recruits Ademola Lookman and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was signed from Wednesday’s local rivals Sheffield United, making significant strides at first team level.
Sheffield striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin scores his first goal for Everton
And according to The Echo, the Toffees will revive their interest in Hirst this summer, after failing to land the free scoring England Under-18 international in January.
Will Sheffield Wednesday lose Hirst to Everton?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
