Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United are all keen on the Wigan striker.
ESPN have claimed on their website that Everton are set to battle Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Manchester United for the signing of 16-year-old Wigan Athletic striker Joe Gelhardt.
The youngster has caught the eye of the Premier League trio after breaking into the Latics’ Under-18 side at just 15 years of age, of which he is now a regular after turning 16 in May.
An England Under-16 international, Gelhardt is considered one of the country’s best strikers at his age and it is believed that the Premier League sides have been tracking the teenager for quite some time.
His stock has continued to grow since shining at the Under-16 Montaigu tournament in Portugal – a similar competition to the Under-21’s Toulon Tournament this summer – in which Gelhardt scored two goals and helped England finish third.
Wigan are bracing themselves for summer interest but after gaining promotion back to the Championship, they are desperate to hold onto the striker and could well deter interest from the country’s best sides by offering senior football.
But the tantalising temptation of the Premier League’s big guns may prove too much for Gelhardt, and a move could occur this summer.
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