West Bromwich Albion youngster Rico Richards who is being chased by Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Arsenal is set to be offered a new deal according to the Express & Star.
Richards who only turned 16 in September has been touted by a whole host of top flight clubs and the Baggies are now looking to tie down the teenager to a new contract.
The youngster can play on the wing or in the number 10 role and his current contract is set to expire next summer leaving the Midlands club in a vulnerable position of losing him for merely a compensation fee due to his age.
Albion are desperate to retain Richards, who netted on his debut for the England under-17s and the hierarchy believe it is in his long-term interests to remain at The Hawthorns.
Such is his development, despite his tender years he has already played for the under-18’s and trained with the under-23’s and West Brom believe he has what it takes to continue onto the first team scene.
Albion are concerned of losing another of their bright starlets following the departures of Morgan Rogers to Manchester City for a measly £4million, whilst being one of the largest transfer fees for someone of his age, he is likely to be worth a lot more in the next few years should his development continue.
Louie Barry is another academy graduate who left the Hawthorns to join Barcelona and rejected a scholarship with Albion in favour of joining one of the biggest clubs in the world.
The news of a new deal being offered to Richards is a clear sign of Albion’s intention to keep one of their brightest talents but it remains to be seen if he decides to put pen to paper.
