Everton’s first January deal edging closer

Everton are on the brink of signing Charlton forward Ademola Lookman for a fee of around £11m.

The 19-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Goodison Park for several weeks now and it was reported just before Christmas that a deal was close to completion.

Now journalist Paul Joyce - formerly of the Express and now The Times - has confirmed a deal is close.

Joyce isn’t a prolific tweeter but when he does his information is usually spot on, meaning Lookman is almost certainly bound for Merseyside.

Lookman has scored seven goals and registered two assists in 25 games for League One Charlton this season.

However, the forward was left out of the Addicks’ squad for the trip to Southend on New Year’s Eve.

Manager Karl Robinson said he left the youngster out of his squad to protect the player’s “dream”, with a move now seemingly imminent.

Charlton were initially holding out on the deal, asking for the player to be returned to the club on loan for the rest of the season. But it appears that has now been worked out and the striker will join Everton immediately with the Blues expecting him to contend for a spot in the senior squad.