Derby County have emerged as favourites to sign Everton striker Lewis Dobbin, according to The Athletic.

The Lowdown: Dobbin profiled

The 19-year-old is an academy product at Goodison Park and has worked his way up through the ranks, making his senior first team debut for the Toffees last season.

Back in January, the forward committed his future and put pen to paper on a long-term deal on Merseyside, but it sounds like Frank Lampard’s side are ready to let him leave on a temporary basis to aid his development, and a move to League One appears a very high possibility.

The Latest: Derby favourites to sign Dobbin

The Athletic report that Derby are now the ‘clear favourites’ to sign Dobbin, with the teenager ‘close’ to agreeing a loan deal away from Everton.

A number of the Toffees’ exciting talents, including Jarrad Branthwaite, have recently benefited from loans, and the Stoke On Trent-born talent looks as if he’ll be next to follow in their footsteps, with his next destination likely to be Pride Park.

The Verdict: Bags of potential

If Derby did manage to get a deal for Dobbin over the line, it would be a major coup for Liam Rosenior and the rest of his backroom staff.

The attacker, once hailed for having a ‘fantastic attitude’ by Everton’s U18s boss David Unsworth, is a versatile and exciting talent who can play in any position across a front three. He’s made an outstanding 25 goal contributions in 31 appearances in the U18s Premier League during his time at Goodison, via Transfermarkt.

The Rams will need to bolster their ranks with extra striking options if they want to give themselves a real chance at a promotion push this season, and Dobbin might be just the man that they are looking for.