Thierry Small is trying to engineer a summer transfer away from Everton, with Arsenal and Manchester United the best-placed sides to sign the left-back, according to The Athletic.
Small is yet to return to the Toffees’ Finch Farm facilities for pre-season, while others arrived for the start of the Rafa Benitez era last week. The 16-year-old is instead training away from the club with a private strength and conditioning coach.
Arsenal and Manchester United are among the sides keeping a close eye on Small’s situation at Everton. Several European clubs, including Bayern Munich, are also keen on the defender, but currently trail the Premier League duo.
Everton hoped to convince Small that his future would be best served at Goodison Park. The Toffees offered the teenager bumper terms for his first professional contract, which he cannot sign until he turns 17 on August 1. But the offer has so far failed to prove attractive.
Small has genuine fears that his route to first-team football is not achievable on Merseyside, with Lucas Digne and Niels Nkounkou ahead in the pecking order. Former manager Carlo Ancelotti and Director of Football Marcel Brands had worked to alleviate those concerns.
Everton gave Small a locker with the first-team at Finch Farm. Ancelotti and Brands also assured the defender of his role next season, before the Italian left for Real Madrid. But the England U17 ace has given no indication that he will put pen to paper on the Toffees’ deal.
Small has even switched agent recently as he looks to get a move away from Everton amid Arsenal’s interest. The Express noted in April the left-back may snub a three-year deal with the Blues, with the Gunners, Manchester United, Brighton, Brentford and Leeds options.
Arsenal can sign a ‘fantastic’ prospect in Everton talent Small
Everton face a race against time to get Small back onside and see the defender snub a move to Arsenal. They have been working for months trying to convince him to accept their offer, but have so far fallen short. And the Solihull-born prospect is now desperate to leave.
Yet Arsenal may face similar challenges to Everton in trying to show Small his route to the first-team. Mikel Arteta has just signed Nuno Tavares from Benfica for £7m to understudy Kieran Tierney. So Small would have to accept being third-choice at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta sharing a convincing case to Small would see Arsenal sign a top talent in the Everton youth prospect, though. Beyond the scale of interest from across Europe, Ancelotti hailed the 16-year-old for his place among the Toffees’ up-and-comers while at Goodison Park.
Ancelotti called Small, via The Guardian, ‘one of our best players in the academy’. While U23s boss David Unsworth told the Liverpool Echo: “Thierry is a fantastic boy. He’s been in the academy system a while and is an attacking left-back with great pace and power.”
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