Everton been given permission to speak to the Cardiff City midfielder Aaron Ramsey, joining Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal in the hunt for the 17-year-old.

The Welsh club announced yesterday that they had received formal bids from three Premier League clubs, and United announced on their website that they had agreed a fee.

Everton are the latest to have a £5m offer accepted for the Caerphilly-born midfielder, who last month became the youngest player to appear in an FA Cup final.

Arsenal have previously matched United's £5million offer, which has also been accepted by Cardiff, while Liverpool have had a similar bid rejected.

Any deals with United and Liverpool may include players moving in the opposite direction, which Cardiff would favour. Ramsey is friends and international colleagues with the Tottenham defenders Gareth Bale and Chris Gunter, so a move to north London to join Arsenal may be the player's preference.