Everton handed boost in quest for winger

Sky Sports is reporting that QPR defender Josh Bowler has turned down a new deal at Loftus Road - edging him closer to a move to Everton.

The Toffees reportedly had a £1.5m bid for Bowler rejected by the London club last month and were preparing a second bid in the region of £3m.

They will no doubt have been boosted by the report that Bowler has turned down an offer of fresh terms at QPR, suggesting he is keen to move on from the Championship club.

Bowler joined QPR in 2013 after being released by Fulham and only signed his first professional contract in February.

The teenager made his senior debut as a second half substitute in QPR’s 4-0 defeat at Norwich on the final day of the season last month.

The Londoners are keen to keep Bowler at the club, with Sky Sports reporting that they are trying to tempt him to stay with the offer of first-team football.

It looks as though those efforts will be in vain however, with Bowler seemingly edging closer to a move to Merseyside.

The deal is unlikely to set pulses racing amongst Everton supporters in a summer where the club are expected to finally flex some financial muscle.

But while Ronald Koeman is keen to bolster the squad with big-money buys, the arrival of director of football Steve Walsh was also designed to improve the club’s youth recruitment.

Walsh wants to bring the best young talent from across the country to compliment the club’s thriving academy.

This could save Everton millions in the long run and perhaps lay the foundations for sustained success in the future.

That can only be a good thing, right?