Premier League trio Chelsea, Manchester United, and Newcastle United are keen on Derby County starlet Cruz Allen, claims an emerging report from The Sun.
Allen is only 16 years old. But already it looks like the Welsh youth international could have a bright career ahead of him with some top teams starting to take a look.
Alan Nixon for The Sun writes that Derby County are ‘braced for bids’ for Allen who is earning rave reviews for his performances with the Rams‘ U18s.
Nixon’s report suggests that Manchester United are most keen, with Chelsea and Newcastle ‘also on the midfielder’s trail’.
Who is Cruz Allen?
Born in Wales, and already a Welsh international at U17 level, Allen is a goal-scoring and goal-creating midfielder who’s making a name for himself at Derby County.
In the U18s Premier League so far this season, Allen has scored three and assisted three more in seven appearances, and is currently under scholarship at Pride Park until 2025, as per Transfermarkt.
Allen could yet follow in the footsteps of names like of Kaide Gordon who rose through the Rams’ ranks before securing a move to Liverpool in 2021, making his Premier League debut in the 2021/22 campaign
Can Derby County hold on to Allen?
It’ll be difficult; even more so given this emerging news of some huge Premier League teams, all with plenty enough backing, keeping an eye on Allen.
And Derby County have been in this position before where they have an emerging talent in the ranks but Premier League vultures start to take notice before he’s even given a sniff at the first-team.
And at 16 years old, whether or not Paul Warne would consider him for the first-team anytime soon remains to be seen.
But if the Rams boss thinks he could benefit from first-team training, or even a run out in League One, then it could go towards boosting his transfer value should he be snapped up.
Allen still has another full year on his current Derby County deal and the Rams may well be considering handing him a pro contract in a bid to get him to stay beyond the January transfer window at least.
Their best bet might be guaranteeing him some regular first-team football as a Premier League move would surely see him playing youth football for a few more years yet.
Derby County return to League One action away vs Port Vale on Tuesday night, with kick off at 7:45pm.