"The market for players as young as 14 has turned wild, according to industry figures. Some wages are astronomical, one agent says. A sporting director at a top-flight club struggling to keep their best youngsters away from the richest teams in England says: It's a nightmare. We have to offer 14-year-olds scholarship contracts just to protect ourselves. It is a ruthless business."
"They paid well for the best and mostly faced little competition until Manchester City entered the field, taking it to another level. Stockpiling players, is how a figure familiar with the market puts it. If Chelsea bought your player, agents would be saying: We're eating well tonight.' Then you'd won the lottery if Chelsea or City wanted your client. But other clubs have started doing it now. The market is crazy."
Premier League clubs are investing heavily in homegrown teenagers, with some players as young as 14 attracting substantial wages and scholarship offers. Top clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester City escalated competition for academy talent, prompting stockpiling of prospects. Brexit restrictions on signing under-18 EU players and Premier League profitability and sustainability rules have increased the premium on English youngsters. Clubs view early, relatively small investments in prospects as potential high-return assets when sold after first-team exposure. Examples include a 17-year-old transfer reported at £1m and big clubs fielding multiple million-pound academy players in youth matches.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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