Australia coach Graham Arnold is backing Harry Souttar to blossom into a Premier League star, telling The Sydney Morning Herald that a move to Everton or Tottenham Hotspur could only benefit the national team.
Not so long ago, Australian footballers were ten a penny in England’s top flight.
But the days of Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell, Mark Schwarzer, Brett Emerton and Mark Viduka are long gone.
Following the departures of Aaron Mooy and Mat Ryan, there are now more players from Kosovo, Gabon, Zambia and Finland gracing Premier League soil than there are from the land Down Under.
That could change soon, however, with The Sentinel reporting that both Everton and Tottenham have sent scouts to watch Souttar, Stoke’s 6ft 6ins man-mountain centre-back.
Is Harry Souttar leaving Stoke City?
“There were a few whispers just before we went to the Olympics about a few Premier League clubs (being interested),” said Arnold, whose current Australia squad boasts four England-based players but none from the first division.
“He’s doing exceptionally well. He’s got a coach that trusts him enormously in Michael O’Neill.
“Harry’s got so much potential. He’s great to have around. He’s got such a great mentality and he’s such a great kid. It’s fantastic for Australia and for Harry if those type of things (a move to the Premier League) happen.”
Stoke sold Souttar’s former centre-back partner Nathan Collins to Burnley last summer, strengthening their coffers to the tune of £12 million.
With the ink still drying on a new long-term contract he signed earlier this year, the promotion-chasing Potters do not appear to be under immediate pressure to cash in on their six-capped Socceroo star.
Then again, can Stoke realistically hope to hang on to Souttar if they fail to secure a return to the big time at the fourth attempt?
As Bristol City, Brentford and co discovered, retaining your best and brightest talents can be all-but impossible when top-flight football slips through your fingers.
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