Barnsley are closing on a deal for Everton midfielder Joe Williams.

The Liverpool Echo says the 20-year-old is expected to seal a six month spell at Oakwell later today in what will be his first stint away from the Blues.

Williams was in the travelling party that went to Tanzania last week and the Huyton player remains part of Ronald Koeman's long-term thinking.

But the Everton manager, who included Williams in first-team squads last season, felt it best for the Academy product to spend the first-half of the campaign away from Goodison.