Everton have long been linked with a move for the Sheffield Wednesday striker.
General view of Everton’s Goodison Park ground
Everton had a bid for George Hirst turned down by Sheffield Wednesday in January, according to their under-23 side’s head of recruitment .
Hirst shone in Wednesday and England’s youth ranks this past campaign and was the top scorer at this summer’s Toulon tournament, taking his tally to 40 goals for the season for club and country.
Everton have recruited a number of top English talents in recent years, with Mason Holgate [Barnsley], Ademola Lookman [Charlton Athletic] and Dominic Calvert-Lewin [Sheffield United] going on to make an impact at first team level.
And according to Jamie Hoyland – the man with whom David Unsworth, the Toffees’ Under-23 boss, discussed Calvert-Lewin’s 2016 transfer – Hirst could have been next.
“We were interested in him earlier on this season,” Hoyland, a former Sheffield United player, told Sheffield Live TV on Thursday. “I’ll admit it, we put a little bid in to Sheffield Wednesday [in January] but [they said] no way.”
Everton Under-23 boss David Unsworth [left] with head of recruitment Jamie Hoyland during their time at Preston
When asked if Everton have maintained an interest in the Owls striker, he added: “We always maintain interest in good players. We are always looking, we are always monitoring. We are looking all over the place.
“George? We will see how it goes.”
Hirst is said to be in contract talks with boyhood club Wednesday, where he is under contract until the end of next season.
General view of Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium
However, the resignation of his father David, the legendary Owls player who had been working in hospitality at Hillsborough, has raised doubts about the 18-year-old’s future in Sheffield 6.
Will Sheffield Wednesday lose Hirst to Everton this summer?
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