Manchester City are scouting Everton defender Ishe Samuels-Smith, according to the Daily Mail.
The England Under 17 international has impressed for both club and country at youth level, having also been named on the bench for two of Everton’s senior games last season.
Samuels-Smith does have plenty of other admirers, though, with Tottenham and most notably Chelsea also keeping a close eye on the player’s progress.
The Mail claim that the Blues are even “weighing up an offer” for the 17-year-old so City may have to move fast if they want to beat their rivals to the teenager’s signature.
Samuels-Smith can play a number of different positions
Although the defender did play most of his football for the Toffees at left-back in Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy last campaign, he has been deployed at centre-back at international level.
In both qualifying for the European Under 17 Championships, and in the tournament itself, Samuels-Smith started in the centre of defence, helping the Three Lions reach the quarter finals back in May.
City may have one advantage over other clubs
Samuels-Smith was born in Manchester so, while he has been at Everton since he was very young, he could be tempted by a return to his home city.
However, it remains to be seen whether the youngster would be interested in joining the Citizens. Considering he is getting close to playing games for Everton’s first team, he may feel that staying in Merseyside is the right move for his career.
City can, of course, show that they do have a pathway to first team football for young players, demonstrated by the likes of Phil Foden and Rico Lewis, but it remains to be seen whether Ishe Samuels-Smith sees the Etihad as the best place for him to make his breakthrough at senior level.
