Everton among top sides chasing young England star

Everton already have five Under-20 World Cup winners on the books, and are looking to add another.

Middlesbrough defender Dael Fry is being watched very keenly by a number of Premier League teams. As reported by the Daily Mail, Manchester United, Chelsea, Leicester City as well as the Blues are all following the youngster’s progress this season.

Fry has done well under Garry Monk this season, and has earned an England Under-21 call-up as well, playing a full ninety minutes in the 1-1 draw against Netherlands during the September international break. He has been called up by Aidy Boothroyd for the UEFA European Under-21 qualifiers against Scotland and Andorra this week as well.

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The 20-year-old has featured in eleven games this season for Boro, with one assist in that time. He played in three games during the Under-20 World Cup, including the quarterfinal win over Mexico.

Everton have done well stocking their squad with youngsters, and Fry would be right at home with his international teammates Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ademola Lookman, Kieran Dowell, Jonjoe Kenny and Callum Connolly.

The Toffees defence has been a big part of the early-season misery and both Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams have looked slow and error-prone in recent weeks. Adding a player like Fry in the January transfer window would not necessarily solve those issues immediately, but will continue to strengthen the youth team ranks.

Meanwhile the Blues have also been linked with another England youth star Ezri Konsa, who is also a central defender, currently at Charlton Athletic and a teammate of Fry’s in winning the Under-20 World Cup this summer.

Another young defender signed over the last transfer window Lewis Gibson has already settled in well and this week left with the England Under-17 side to the World Cup that starts this month.