Everton are reportedly preparing to reward record-breaking left-back Thierry Small with a professional deal in order to ward off suitors for the promising youngster.
The 16-year-old made headlines in becoming the youngest debutant in Everton’s history at the weekend, surpassing the previous record holder Jose Baxter in 2008 by 15 days.
Carlo Ancelotti handed the youngster his debut off the bench in the latter stages of Everton’s 3-0 FA Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday as the Toffees progressed to the fifth round.
Ancelotti, who also handed a debut to youngster Tyler Onyango two days ago, has reportedly shown a belief that the youngster is ready in his maturity and physicality to compete with the first team.
The club hopes that Small will join Onyango in signing professional terms with the club, with talks said to be ongoing over a three-year deal, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
Players cannot officially sign professional terms until they turn 17 and Small reaches that age in August. However, that has not prevented the Everton board from laying the groundwork for a professional deal.
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Small’s debut should go a long way in convincing the youngster that he has an obvious pathway to first team football. At just 16, Small has evidently impressed Ancelotti enough to come into the manager’s thinking, and a three-year deal would still take Small to just 19 years of age when the contract expires.
Small could be a hot prospect for many years to come and the Toffees may need to fight hard to retain his services. has to be A clear pathway to first team football for the youngster must be a priority, or else he could feel a desire to try his luck elsewhere in the coming years.
