Harrison Armstrong is the talk of Everton right now after making his full Premier League debut.
The England U19 international spent the first half of the season on loan at Preston, but was handed a first Premier League start by David Moyes in the 1-1 draw against Wolves on Wednesday and impressed after being recalled to the Hill Dickinson Stadium as recently as New Year’s Day.
Not only could Harrison Armstrong now represent a genuine starting option for Everton – but he may also assist in helping The Friedkin Group bring Mateus Mane to Merseyside.
Link emerges between Harrison Armstrong and Mateus Mane as Everton target Wolves wonderkid
It was TEAMtalk who claimed that Everton are interested in signing Mane as the Wolves No.36 begins to take the Premier League by storm – netting two goals and assisting another two in ten games for the Premier League’s basement side so far this season.
How impressed were you with Mateus Mane on Wednesday night for Wolves? 👏
He's looked brilliant in recent weeks for Rob Edwards.
Competition for his signature will be rife as Manchester United and Liverpool are also credited with an interest in the 18-year-old.
However, Armstrong – who Preston want back – could help Everton win the race, as he seems to be close friends with Mane.
After the Everton No.45 posted about his first Premier League start on Instagram, the Wolves wonderkid was among the first to reply as he sent a heart emoji to his pal.
Mane and Armstrong know each other from the England U18 side – making three appearances before the latter moved up to the England U19 squad.
Former Everton glovesman Asmir Begovic also responded, sending two applauding emojis to the Everton prodigy – while Lewis Dobbin and Crystal Palace prospect David Ozoh sent kind messages too.
Mateus Mane makes much more sense for Everton than permanent Jack Grealish deal
As you may already know, Everton have a £50m option to buy Jack Grealish at the end of the season when his loan from Manchester City expires.
Even if the Toffees can haggle that sum down to the £30m mark, it would make much more sense to spend that cash on Mane.
Would you even pay £30m for Jack Grealish? 🫣
We presume Wolves would sell the teenager for a fee in that region once they are relegated, and it would be much more sensible to splash that money on a rising talent with his best years ahead of him than to spend it on a player who is clearly past his best in Grealish.
Mane is 12 years younger than the England international, but has still managed to score two goals in ten Premier League games this season – matching Grealish’s tally from 19 appearances – so it would represent much better value for money to target the Wolves star instead.
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