Everton have explored a deal for Sunderland starlet Chris Rigg and are prepared to play the waiting game for one of England’s most sought-after wonderkids, TEAMtalk understands.

David Moyes is on the hunt for young and hungry attacking players, with deals for Southampton winger Tyler Dibling and West Brom wideman Tom Fellows ongoing.

Everton have a long-standing interest in Fellows, who saw a January deadline move to Merseyside fall through.

That deal has since not got off the ground this summer, with Southampton’s Dibling now emerging as their main target ahead of Fellows.

The structure of Dibling’s fee, with Southampton wanting £50million and a sell-on clause included in any deal, means that there has been slow progress.

It’s understood that Fellows is now on Southampton’s radar if a deal with the highly-rated Dibling can be struck with Everton, with the structure of payment holding any move up, for now.

Everton have so far seen three bids rejected for Dibling, with the latest offer amounting to a package of around £40million, and talks are ongoing over a deal for the left-footed star who burst onto the scene and was a shining light in Southampton’s gloomy season.

Everton are big admirers of Sunderland ace; big gap in valuations

Rigg, 18, is a player admired by Everton but Moyes is now prepared to bide his time and see how the teenage midfielder adapts in the Premier League despite receiving positive reports from scouting team to run the rule over him last season.

They run the risk then of rival clubs swooping but Everton are not willing to contemplate meeting Rigg’s £40million asking price this summer.

Everton put Rigg in the £15million bracket and that means both clubs are miles apart in terms of their valuation for a player who still has two years left on his contract with Sunderland.

It’s been a frustrating summer in the transfer market for Everton ahead of their new era at Bramley-Moore Dock, but they are determined to finish the window strongly.

Everton missed out on the likes of Francisco Conceicao, Johan Bakayoko and Malick Fofana and have now been looking closer to home with in-demand Manchester City playmaker Jack Grealish a loan target.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall did arrive this week from Chelsea but Moyes’ push for pace and youth on the flanks has so far stalled.