Arsenal had scouted Ezri Konsa this season but Everton look set to win the race for the centre-back starring in League One with Charlton Athletic.
One year after Everton raided Charlton Athletic for Ademola Lookman, the Merseyside giants look set to return to The Valley for another of their most highly-rated youngsters.
The Toffees have been linked with a move for centre-back Ezri Konsa for a number of months and now appear ready to step up their pursuit in the January transfer window.
It looks increasingly likely, then, that Arsenal will come unstuck in their attempts to beat the Toffees to one of English football’s most promising defenders. ESPN reported in November that the Gunners, who have made a habit of scouting and signing youngsters from the Football League in recent years, had been scouting Konsa throughout the season.
But the 20-year-old will not be following in the footsteps of former Charlton talent Carl Jenkinson in heading for The Emirates Stadium.
Konsa, who has won four caps for England’s Under-20s, has been a regular in the Addicks first-team over the last 18 months and has caught the eye with his pace, positioning and intelligent distribution.
He will become the latest homegrown prospect to join the Everton ranks since Steve Walsh was appointed as the club’s Director of Football in 2016, following Lookman, Josh Bowler and Lewis Gibson to Goodison Park.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
