By Wayne Veysey

18th Oct, 2021 | 5:01pm

Sources: Everton set sights on ‘next Robertson’ after scouts impressed

Everton are keeping close tabs on Morecambe left-back sensation Connor Pye, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.

The 17-year-old has burst on to the scene this season and was named man of the match in their recent EFL trophy game against Hartlepool.

An Everton source has told Football Insider that the club are monitoring Pye’s situation after their scouts were hugely impressed.

The teenager, who has hailed the “next Andy Robertson” due to his energetic playing style, is on the radar of multiple Premier League and Championship clubs.

Pye is training regularly with Morecambe’s first team and has been on the bench for league fixtures.

He joined the Morecambe academy from Wigan Athletic in 2020.

The League One club’s academy manager, Stewart Drummond, hailed the youngster an influential member of the youth team in July of this year.

Everton are in the market for a young left-back after their highly-rated academy product Thierry Small left for Southampton in the summer.

Small cancelled his two-year Everton scholarship early and instead put pen to paper on a three-year deal at St. Mary’s.

On October 4th, Football Insider revealed the Toffees rejected a £1.5million bid from Southampton for the left-back.

The Merseyside club believe they deserve £5million in compensation for the teenager.

A young left-back was added to Everton’s squad in July 2020 – Niels Nkounkou arriving on a free transfer from Marseille.

However, the 20-year-old is not fancied by Rafael Benitez and was sent out on loan to Standard Liege on deadline day.

An Everton source has told Football Insider that the club will only have £9million to spend in the January window.

The club’s recruitment team are set to target loan deals and cut-price transfers in January.

They see Connor Pye as falling into the latter category.

In other news, an injury expert has warned an Everton star has a ‘big problem’.