Crewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis says Max Clayton is close to moving to an English club.
The 20-year-old has been a free agent since refusing a contract with the Sky Bet League One outfit at the end of last season, and he has been training with Sunderland, Wolves and Bolton Wanderers.
Everton have also been linked with the attacker.
"It has moved a step closer with Max but nothing has been finalised yet and we'll have to wait and see," Davis said.
"It is a bit out of our hands and any decision rests with Max and his agent, but we have been as helpful as we can to him to come to a conclusion.
"Max needs to get his career up and running again but as a club we also had to receive some decent compensation for all the hard work the likes of Dario (Gradi, director of football) and the coaches have done here bringing him through the academy and into the professional game.
"He has had a tough couple of years with all the expectation on him and then the injury he suffered last year.
"He didn't have the impact he would have wanted in League One and we were disappointed that he didn't sign his contract with us because the club did everything they could to try and keep him.
"If it happens then it will be good for Max because he still has a lot of potential and needs to get his career going again."
