Everton will allow talented midfielder Joe Williams join Bolton Wanderers on a season-long loan.
The Liverpool Echo understands that the Toffees’ academy product had the pick of four Championship sides to join for this term, and Williams has chosen to remain in the north west of England with the Trotters.
Williams, who is now 21 years old, is still viewed as an exciting prospect among Everton’s coaching staff and could even break into the first-team picture soon.
With that in mind, the Blues have inserted a loan recall clause in Williams’ temporary contract with Bolton that, should they wish to promote him into their senior squad at any point, means Bolton must allow him to return to Merseyside.
Bolton’s fellow second tier sides Hull City, Birmingham City and Bristol City had also eyed Williams’ signature, but he has elected to remain fairly local and ply his trade under Phil Parkinson for the 2018/19 campaign.
Williams was expected to finally make a first-team breakthrough at Goodison Park after he impressed Everton manager Marco Silva in pre-season training.
However, the centre midfielder sustained a thigh injury just one week into Silva’s era in L4 and ensured that he fell down the pecking order among the midfield ranks.
Williams will no use his Bolton loan to build up his match sharpness again and prove that he has the ability to play at a higher level under the Portuguese gaffer at Goodison.
Williams spent the entirety of the 2017/18 season on loan at Barnsley, and he showed off his quality by making 38 appearances for the Tykes in all competitions.
Such was the level of his performances, Barnsley tried to sign him permanently for £1m in January, but Everton decided against letting him leave as they value him as a potential first-teamer.
One senior star who is set to leave on loan is Yannick Bolasie, with the winger ready to join Aston Villa for the season after he fell out of favour under Silva.