**Everton are set to open talks with Braiden Graham over a new contract.**
Graham enjoyed a meteoric rise since signing professional forms with David Moyes’ side and scored 25 goals in 34 games at youth level last season.
That form earned him the Blues’ Under-18 Player of the Season as well as earned international recognition with a first senior Northern Ireland call-up.
He was named in two of Everton’s match day squads during the previous campaign for a trip to Nottingham Forest and an FA Cup exit with Sunderland.
Hill Dickinson Stadium chiefs are now weighing up the next steps in Graham’s development with a potential loan spell being assessed during the summer.
Negotiations will also commence on extending his stay in the blue half of Merseyside with the forward’s existing deal set to expire in June 2027.
Moyes hinted in April that Graham could be included in Everton’s pre-season preparations despite being overlooked for the remainder of last term.
“Everybody wants good young players to come through and I’m pleased that Braiden’s doing well,” he said at the time.
“I think he’s got a bit to go before he’s at our level.
“I’m really pleased, and if he does that, he will get more noticed and probably get more chances of being seen in pre-season than he would do now.”