Everton have tried to engineer a swap deal to sign Arsenal target Adam Wharton from Blackburn Rovers.
Adam Wharton is wanted by Everton but their attempts to secure a swap deal don’t seem to have gone anywhere.
That is according to the Daily Mail, who claim that Everton are keen to bring Wharton to Goodison Park.
It’s stated that Everton have been trying to be creative by proposing swap deals for the young midfielder.
One idea was to send Ellis Simms to Blackburn, but he has instead completed a move to Coventry City.
Another was to offer up fellow striker Tom Cannon, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Blackburn’s rivals Preston North End.
However, these proposals were made ‘a few weeks back’ and with no progress made, it doesn’t look like a swap will be taking place.
Adam Wharton is a man in demand
Everton are seemingly trying to strike a deal for Wharton before the Premier League’s top clubs swoop in.
Wharton, 19, was born in Blackburn, grew up supporting the club and has emerged through their youth ranks.
Now a first-team regular, Wharton excelled in the Championship last season and has six England Under-19 caps to his name.
The Sun reported in May that Arsenal and Newcastle United had both scouted Wharton.
The teenager is seen as a future star and Everton may now struggle to sign him before Arsenal or Newcastle get involved.
Everton would be mad to let Tom Cannon go
The surprising part of this rumour is that Cannon may have been on offer.
Simms makes sense given that he has just been sold to a Championship club.
Cannon looks to be a top prospect though and impressed with eight goals in 20 games for PNE last season.
The 20-year-old has huge potential and is the kind of talent Everton should be looking to incorporate into first-team plans.
Maybe the offer was just a loan but if anybody comes calling to try and buy Cannon, Everton should send them packing.
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