Everton move to sign James Carragher, son of Jamie

Everton are interested in signing James Carragher, son of Liverpool legend Jamie, from Wigan Athletic.

The 18-year-old centre-half is currently on a scholarship at Wigan where his contract expires at the end this season.

Everton have been scouting the youngster since being impressed in a game between the clubs’ academies earlier this season, and are considering offering Carragher his first professional contract ahead of joining Goodison’s Under 23s set-up this summer.

Carragher can leave for a compensation fee to be determined and talks are ongoing between the clubs.

If he makes the move the young Carragher would complete the opposite emotional journey to his father, who famously switched loyalties from being a boyhood blue to become an Anfield legend.

Carragher Jr began his youth career at Anfield but has been part of the youth set-up at Wigan since 2017, the club developing a growing reputation for nurturing young talent which but increasingly unable to reap the rewards at senior level due to their financial problems.

It has been an uncertain period at Wigan since they were placed into administration in 2020 which led directly to last season’s relegation from The Championship and the departure of highly-rated manager Paul Cook. They have struggled in League One, currently 20th in the division.

A sale of the club to Phoenix 21 Ltd, a consortium led by Bahraini businessman Abdulrahman Al-Jasmi, went through last month.

But a year of instability has impacted across all layers of the club, with coaches and players at all levels considering their options during the course of this season.

Carragher Jr looks like he will be the latest departure, following other prospects Alfie Devine, Jensen Weir and Joe Gelhardt. They moved to Spurs, Brighton and Leeds United, respectively.

Devine made his senior debut for Spurs in this season’s FA Cup, while Weir and Gelhardt have been substitutes in the Premier League.

Another highly-rated Wigan prospect, Kyle Joseph, is also expected to leave when his contract ends this summer as the north west club continue to suffer the consequences of a dysfunctional 12 months.