Express & Star

West Brom bid to tie down starlet Rico Richards

Albion have offered a new deal to talented youngster Rico Richards in a bid to keep him at the club.

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GV / general view across the pitch at The Hawthorns (AMA)

Richards only turned 16 in September but has been training with the Baggies’ under-23 side this season.

A forward who can play on the wing or in the number 10 role, Richards is out of contract next summer.

And his potential has alerted a host of big clubs with Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal all reportedly keen on the youth international.

Albion want to keep the youngster, who netted on his debut for England under-17s, and believe it is in his long-term interests to remain at The Hawthorns.

Having already played for the club’s under-18s and having trained with the under-23s, they believe the pathway is there for him to make it all the way to the first-team.

The Baggies, though, have seen a number of their talented youngsters depart the club in recent years.

Morgan Rogers was still 16 when he left last summer to join City in a deal worth £4m, one of the highest fees ever paid for a player of his age.

And Louie Barry, also 16, rejected a scholarship with The Baggies before moving abroad to join Barcelona and their famous La Masia academy.