Leeds eye Everton starlet Thierry Small amid contract stall

Leeds United have been alerted to the potential availability of Everton left-back Thierry Small, who is holding back on signing his first professional contract due to a lack of first team opportunities at Goodison Park.

The Daily Express report that the Toffees have offered Small with three-year contract, but the 16-year-old has even found first team training hard to come by, and is subsequently considering his options.

A host of clubs, ranging from Brentford and Brighton, to Manchester United and Bayern Munich, are eyeing the youngster, who could be available for just £1 million. However, Brexit regulations have ended Bayern’s hopes of landing the Englishman.

Small became Everton’s youngest ever player, aged 16 years and 157 days, when he came off the bench during a 3-0 FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday in January, but has not been included in a matchday squad since.

Despite being valued at £90 thousand by Transermarkt, the starlet is thought to have a high potential, and is also being eyed by Arsenal. He is eligible to play for England, Jamaica or Saint Kitts at international level.

The left-back has played 10 times in the U18 Premier League, and a further nine times in the Premier League 2, scoring six goals in total this season. His scholarship runs until the end of next season.

With several players ahead of Small in the pecking order at Everton, and with Lucas Digne signing a new deal recently, it appears likely that he will look elsewhere for first team opportunities.