SMITH COY OVER HUGHES LINK
The 23-year-old midfielder has been out-of-favour at Highbury for the last two years and is rumoured to be discussing a move to Goodison Park.
The Gunners` starlet, who had a spell on loan at Fulham earlier this season, would command a fee of somewhere in the region of £3 million.
Hughes is seen as a potential replacement for John Collins and captain Don Hutchison, who are both expected to leave the Merseyside club in the summer.
The Toffees` skipper, whose contract runs out at the end of the next season, has been linked with a move back to his native North East, but the player`s agent Rachel Anderson has dismissed reports suggesting that Sunderland have made a bid for her client.
"Everton have told me categorically that there have been no bids for Don, although we understand there are three or four clubs showing an interest," Anderson said.
However, Hutchison`s representative insisted that her client would be interested in a move to The Black Cats.
"It`s absolute nonsense to suggest that Don would only consider joining Sunderland if they were assured of a place in Europe," she added.
"He`s a North-East lad and Sunderland are a leading Premiership club. He`s interested in playing in the Premiership or at the top level abroad. There are some foreign clubs monitoring the situation but they are thinking more about next season."
Ciaran Baynes
