Chelsea forward Tyrique George is 'close to joining Everton', according to GIVEMESPORT senior reporter Fabrizio Romano.
The youngster has broken into the Blues' first-team squad since the start of last season but now appears set to join the Toffees in a loan deal with an option to buy.
George Looks set for Goodison Park Move
Tyrique George
Links between the teenager and the Toffees have been frequent in recent days and on Saturday afternoon, Romano reported that Everton had sent a loan offer with an option to buy to their Premier League rivals.
The GMS senior reporter followed up in the early hours of Sunday morning when discussing George's situation on his Youtube channel, telling his followers:
"Tyrique George, close to joining Everton. The deal is very close - initial loan with a buy option close. So Tyrique George could leave Chelsea."
Romano didn't give any more detail on when a deal could be completed or whether it had advanced beyond his initial report the day prior, but he certainly seems confident that the promising forward is close to completing a move to Merseyside.
George Offers Something in the Short and Long Term
jack grealish
This could be a very shrewd signing for the Toffees, taking advantage of the somewhat bloated squad at Stamford Bridge.
George is clearly highly-rated; as well as being a regular for England at every level from U16 to U21, he's also made 37 appearances for Chelsea's senior team, returning six goals and even finding the net in the Premier League. Team-mate Levi Colwill is a big fan, describing George as 'amazing' and a player with a 'future' after he found an assist against Southampton last season.
"He’s very, very sharp. Amazing player and he’s got a future ahead of him. I’m really proud for him and that assist, hopefully he can go on now and keep doing these performances for us and more.”
The shared consensus appears to be that he's got something, and although Everton aren't short of options in the wide positions or up front right now, George nonetheless brings added competition to an attacking cast that has struggled for goals at times this season, scoring only 26 in 25 Premier League games.
But at 19 years of age there is plenty of long-term potential with George too, which makes the buy option a shrewd piece of business. Moyes has a knack of only focusing on the short-term when it comes to squad building, but the Chelsea attacker could theoretically be an Everton player for the next ten or 15 years.
Jack Grealish's loan deal expires this summer and Dwight McNeil's contract enters its final twelve months too, so it makes sense to start thinking about potential alternatives already and although George can play across the attacking line, the left wing is his most favoured role.