Everton have scoured Europe for talented youngsters in recent months and sent scouts to watch Aston Villa’s Under-23s against Wolves on Monday.
While the Manchester City and Chelsea boast arguably the most glamorous and high profile academy systems in English football right now, Everton will argue that theirs is the most prosperous.
David Unsworth’s Under-23s won the Premier League 2 title last season while former youth stars Tom Davies, Mason Holgate and, most recently, Jonjoe Kenny look set for a promising long-term future in Everton’s first-team.
And with director of football Steve Walsh attempting to lure some of the most exciting young talent to Goodison Park, the likes of Josh Bowler and Lewis Gibson arriving from QPR and Newcastle United in the summer for hefty fees, the future looks bright on Merseyside.
Everton hunt a Hare?
Goals from Jordan Lyden and Harry McKirdy sealed an impressive result for Villa but there is one player in the Midland giants’ academy who appears to be head and shoulders above his peers right now.
19-year-old Callum O’Hare is arguably the most exciting prospect outside of the Premier League right now and Villa’s little magician was in inspired form against Wolves at New Bucks’ Head. He ran the show from his number ten position and once again proved by Villa boss Steve Bruce is so keen to give him a platform in the first-team.
O’Hare played the final 11 minutes as Villa’s senior side went down 2-0 to Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves on Saturday – his fifth appearance of the season already – before getting further minutes under his belt for the reserves.
Villa will be desperate to hang onto a player Bruce believes is the future of the first-team – but Everton will surely have left the game on Monday night with another wonderkid on their wish list.
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