Sources: Everton and Aston Villa in race to sign Cox
Aston Villa and Everton have joined the race to sign AFC Wimbledon goalkeeping sensation Matthew Cox, Football Insider has learned.
The two Premier League clubs are in the market for a young shot-stopper with the potential to develop and become a first-team star.
A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Villa and Everton are both keen on Cox going into the summer window.
Talent spotters from the Premier League big guns have been dispatched to watch Cox, 18, in action at age-group level.
They have delivered glowing reports about the teenager, who has been a regular on the AFC Wimbledon sub's bench this season.
He is still waiting for his senior debut at the League One club, with Nik Tzanev taking over as first choice in recent months from the injured Sam Walker.
Both of the senior keepers are out of contract at the end of next month, while Cox has two more years to run on the professional deal he signed last year on his 17th birthday.
Capped by England at Under-17 level, the youngster has attracted significant interest over the last 18 months and has also been linked with Man United.
Cox signed for Chelsea at the age of eight and then joined Wimbledon in his mid teens and linked up initially with their Under-15 squad.
Villa and Everton played out a 0-0 draw on Thursday night, with their number ones Emiliano Martinez and Jordan Pickford both keeping clean sheets.