Everton are reportedly set to make a January move for Town defender Adam Webster.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Toffees are ready to test the Blues’ resolve with a £4 million offer for the 21-year-old.

Webster, who joined Town from Portsmouth in the summer for £700,000 plus Matt Clarke, who moved in the opposite direction, is also understood to be interesting Sunderland.

Blues boss Mick McCarthy has said the former England U18 and U19 international is a Premier League player of the future on a number of occasions, but speaking at Thursday's press conference was confident that he would be able to keep hold of his most coveted players, owner Marcus Evans having previously resisted big offers for key men such as Leicester's £7 million bid for David McGoldrick in the summer of 2014.

An offer of £4 million is very unlikely to even be considered in the current market.

“They’re all under contract but we’ve seen that before with players under contract,” McCarthy said.

“I’m not sat here worried about losing them, I’m sat here more concerned about getting some fresh faces in that would provide a spark and an impetus for us so we could push forward.”

Meanwhile, academy head of recruitment Steve McGavin and coach Scott Mitchell have been among a number of Town representatives holding a week-long training camp at the Clyde Best Centre of Excellence in Bermuda and also watching games in the British Overseas Territory.

“Like anywhere in the world there is talent and we’ve identified that,” McGavin told Bermuda’s Royal Gazette.

“It’s about developing relationships, a trust element when people know what we’re doing, and there may be opportunities in the future for boys from the island.

“It’s only been after coming here that I realised how many [Bermudian] boys have been proactive in terms of going to the United Kingdom, some of them we’ve played against for other teams.”

Elsewhere, former Town winger Alex Henshall has joined Vanarama National League South side Margate having left Kilmarnock at the end of last season. The 22-year-old’s Blues contract was settled by mutual consent in January.

Photo: TWTD

Smithy added 21:37 - Dec 23 That's him gone then
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jas0999 added 21:39 - Dec 23 Happy Christmas Marcus!
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martleshamitfc added 21:47 - Dec 23 Steve McGavin and coach Scott Mitchell are not stupid... next looking for talent in the Seychelles #freeholiday
4

Cloddyseedbed added 21:50 - Dec 23 He's been well advertised by MM lately, as has Bart. So no great surprise. Everybody has a price tag on there head. Just hope replacements are lined up should there be anybody who is a good player sold. Not many fit into that category. Certainly not good for supporters morale this, but we've got used to it over the seasons. Shame we never replace a player that is sold with a better replacement anymore.

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ArnieM added 21:57 - Dec 23 NO AMBITION IPSWICH TOWN.
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iaintaylorx added 21:59 - Dec 23 Arnie.. It's a rumour, and it's from the Daily Mirror...
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LimitlessBlue added 22:00 - Dec 23 Bermuda!! what a jolly,,,,
2

Seasider added 22:13 - Dec 23 Oh dear,put more store on Mirror than Mail;but hope he doesn't go £14m is a lot though. Still off to pack for Christmas at sister-in- laws,but wil make the 250 mile round trip for boxing day match. Must be mad!!! Best wishes to all
4

ArnieM added 22:36 - Dec 23 Iantaylor... I hope you're right, I really pray you are. I wouldn't mind selling the Crown jewels if I felt the most eye would be ploughed back into the team, but it rarely is.
4

Mark added 22:51 - Dec 23 £4M? Keep hold of Webster as he could be worth crazy money very easily. Take Mings, good job we didn't let him go when the first bids came in and he ended up going for loads more. Keep investing in top youngsters from the lower leagues alongside our academy, that is the way forward. They will cost fees, but look at the profit available to reinvest if they sell to Premier League teams. I hope from the words said at the AGM that we are finally moving away from our policy of signing older players cast off from other Championship clubs on free transfers. We need quality players who can pass the ball.

12

muccletonjoe added 22:54 - Dec 23 Is someone seeing a one in front of that 4 -seasider
2

bingboast added 23:11 - Dec 23 Good news though - Paul Taylor scored the winner for Peterborough mid week - back for second stint!!
0

OwainG1992 added 23:14 - Dec 23 Reject that offer if it's genuine! If i was a fan of an Everton etc I would be keen to sign this lad because in 2 or 3 years of prem football he would be worth a hell of a lot!
0

BlueandTruesince82 added 23:59 - Dec 23 We have a pretty good record of turning down bids for our more talented players, why should now be any different?
1

casanovacrow added 00:02 - Dec 24 £4m? no chance Everton. Jog on.
3

GiveusaWave added 05:58 - Dec 24 4 million? Seriously? Maybe 5 million plus 50% sell on clause, 1 million after 10 appearances, 1 million after first international appearance, 500k after his first goal, 500k after 10 goals and a further 500k after 50 appearances. Then we might consider the offer.....
0

battyblue added 06:26 - Dec 24 one we should be building the team around he needs to stay if town have any ambition,,but Smith will soon be fit again so scrouge may fill his back pocket again..Happy Christmas all thanks Phil and co for excellent TWTD lets hope we can all see better football being played in 2017.
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surgery added 07:19 - Dec 24 Tell them they can have him for £4 million but only on condition that they take Skip, his mate on the other side and our two midfield proper blokes as part of the package
2

Brownie added 07:52 - Dec 24 It doesn't matter how much the bid is - on the football side we will not progress if we sell our young & potentially very good players. Especially if when you do the money raised is not invested in the team. On the business side you would sell if right bid came on & £4m is not the right bid. Therefore logic says he won't go. Taking into account all of the above that means he's gone then!

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WestSussexBlue added 08:08 - Dec 24 Tuesday, "The 3 point plan involves buying young talent and developing them as our own." "Thursday, I'm not worried about losing any of them"??
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DurhamTownFan added 08:09 - Dec 24 Guentchev:clearly been playing too much football manager, mate!
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martin587 added 09:12 - Dec 24 Ok,it's only paper talk at the moment,but should it be true the Lad is sure to have his head turned for the chance to play in the Prem league and obtain a big salary. Let's just hope we can hold on to him and build a defence round him,certainly a player for the future. Yes,a large transfer fee would be very nice,but then again do we need to sell or doe's the owner want to recoup some of his debt.That is the question should the article be true.

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yorksblue added 09:34 - Dec 24 Clyde Best. A big CF from the past at Wet Sham.
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Simonds92 added 10:02 - Dec 24 If John Stones is worth £50 million then I think Webster would be close to the same mark if we were in the prem. Surely the price tag would have to be upwards of £15 million?
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ITFCFan added 10:05 - Dec 24 I think he's worth a lot more than that but you gotta remember we sold the best LB in the league for approx 7 million so 4 million for a unproven defender is probably good! He's got the ability to be one of the best centre backs in this league so hope he stays.
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