Young Everton forward Lewis Dobbin is set to leave Goodison Park on loan, according to The Athletic.
The report suggests that 19-year-old is most likely to join Derby County, who enjoyed a winning start to life in League One, beating Oxford United 1-0 in the first competitive game under their new owners.
Dobbin made his senior debut for Everton last season in a 2-0 win over Norwich City, and was described by his then manager Rafa Benitez as ‘very bright’.
The England under-19 international has yet to score a senior goal, but was a regular in Everton’s Premier League 2 side, being nominated for a Player of the Month award in January.
Dobbin’s versatility is one of his main strength, with the youngster comfortable playing on either wing or as a centre-forward.
Dobbin close to loan move
Dobbin is the latest young Everton player looking set to go out on loan this summer, and Frank Lampard has previously said this would always be the case for the forward:
“Lewis Dobbin is one where a loan probably will be the best thing for him”.
“He was great last year, trained well and showed energy and spark. But it’s a good time for him to go and play.”
Dobbin made three Premier League appearances last season off the bench, including a 28-minute outing against Chelsea where he replaced fellow academy star Ellis Simms, who has also left on loan this summer.
If Dobbin can break into Derby’s first team, he’ll gain plenty of invaluable experience in League One, and playing alongside experienced pros like David McGoldrick and James Collins will help him develop further.
One Everton player who won’t be going out on loan yet is midfielder Lewis Warrington, who has impressed in pre-season and will be in the first team picture at the start of the season.