Queens Park Rangers teenager Josh Bowler is reportedly the subject of a developing transfer tug of war with Sky Sports and the Daily Mirror reporting that the Championship club has rejected an initial £3million bid from Everton.
The 17-year-old signed an 18-month contract with Rangers in February – his first professional deal – and after shining at academy level, Bowler made his senior bow in the 4-0 defeat to Norwich on the final day of the league campaign.
The R’s are determined to keep the young starlet and an initial offer from Everton, believed to be in the region of £1.5m plus add-ons was turned down.
Everton have adopted a policy of recruiting emerging talent from clubs within the English Football League. The Toffees signed Ademola Lookman from Charlton in January for £11m and also prised Dominic Calvert-Lewin away from Sheffield United last August for £1.5m.
Bassala Sambou (Coventry City), Matty Foulds (Bury), Mason Holgate (Barnsley) and Brendan Galloway (MK Dons) have also all arrived at Goodison Park from EFL clubs in recent times and Everton may yet return to QPR with an improved offer for Bowler.
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