Although Everton have reportedly made bid, will Tottenham prevent Toffees from rectifying Joe Wright mistake?

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Everton are trying to re-sign Joe Wright from League One giants Blackburn Rovers after releasing him four years ago, but Spurs are providing competition.

It is always a little humiliating when you release a player without ever really giving him a chance, watch him blossom elsewhere and then spend a rather substantial sum of money bringing him back just a few years later.

No matter how brilliantly Paul Pogba performs for Manchester United, they will always be reminded that they paid a then-world record £89 million to sign a player they once neglected to promote from their academy.

But credit where credit is due and Everton should be commended for realising they made a mistake in releasing Joe Wright at the age of 13 – and now trying to rectify their error.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Toffees have made a bid of £1 million to sign the now 17-year-old from Blackburn Rovers. The midfielder has developed into one of the country’s most in-demand youngsters during four years at Ewood Park and Everton know they are in a battle to bring Wright back to Goodison with Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester and Stoke City all keen.

You could hardly forgive Wright for being intrigued by the prospect of signing for Spurs, having witnessed countless homegrown talents develop from little-known youngsters into international stars under the tutelage of manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Everton, then, know they have to act fast and they have done, opening the bidding for a player who is obviously seen as having the potential to be a future Premier League star.

You could argue that the Toffees should not have let Wright go in the first place. But at least they are doing everything they can to cancel out the error while the cost of his signature would not break the bank.

Although if Tottenham manage to lure Wright to North London instead, and he follows in the footsteps of Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Danny Rose and co, Everton will be left to deliver a swift kick to themselves.