Everton Look to Have Beaten Arsenal in Race for Wonderkid Joshua Zirkzee After Under-19s Appearance

Everton can be increasingly confident that they've beaten Arsenal to the signing of Dutch wonderkid Joshua Zirkzee after the player was spotted in a Blues shirt this week. 

The 16-year-old, who is also being tracked by Manchester United, looked like he was edging towards a move to the Emirates, but the Mirror are reporting that Everton have stolen a march after the youngster turned out for the Blues' Under-19s in a youth tournament in Prague. 

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Zirkzee captured the attention of Europe's leading clubs with his fine scoring form for the Feyenoord youth teams in Holland. His 33 goals in 27 goals were enough to convince Everton boss Ronald Koeman, who has links to Feyenoord where he was once manager, that Zirkzee could play a key part in the Merseysiders' mission to improve the club's youth ranks and build for the future.

Everton are also closing on a deal to sign Newcastle starlet Lewis Gibson for a £6m fee. They look to have beaten Spurts to the capture of the highly-rated left sided centre half.  

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The 16-year-old is considered one of the country's brightest young talents and his exit would be seen as a blow to the Magpies.

Everton have been busy in the transfer window so far and it's not just senior signings that are being made. Zirkzee and Gibson would join fellow young talents, Anton Donker who rejoins from Wolfsburg, QPR's Josh Bowler, Metz striker Boris Mathis and Nathangelo Markelo from FC Volendam at the Merseyside club.