By Matthew Shaw

7th Oct, 2021 | 7:10am

Everton closely watching Stoke defender Harry Soutar

Everton have been closely watching the progress of Stoke City defender Harry Souttar, according to Football Scotland.

The online outlet has shared on their website that Premier League rivals Spurs are also interested in the 22-year-old giant.

Standing at 6’7″, Souttar has been a standout at the Bet365 Stadium and has been handed the captain’s armband by Michael O’Neill.

Duncan Ferguson has been spotted watching Stoke already this season, and was at their clash with Preston not so long ago.

Mike Pejic, who played for the Toffees as well as Stoke as tipped huge things for Souttar having watched him closely.

“He’s got potential to be in a top-six side,” he said.

“If I had been in a Premier League club I would have bid £20m this summer.”

£20million?

That appears like a lot of money, especially when you compare it to the similar fee spent on Ben Godfrey from Norwich.

Godfrey has been sensational since arriving and made the England squad but he did have Premier League experience beforehand with the Canaries.

Souttar doesn’t have that with Stoke, and has little experience in the Championship given his debut was only last year.

Marcel Brands has utilised the cheaper market phenomenally over the past six months, so we can’t see him just throwing £20million at an untested name just because the likes of Moise Kean and James Rodriguez left.

No doubt this is an area that Rafa Benitez wants strengthening, but there could be plenty more names thrown into the hat before January.

In other Everton news, the Toffees want to sign giant sensation, contract set to expire in 2022 – report