Everton youngster Cameron Bell exits Goodison Park for Rangers switch
Cameron Bell has decided to leave Everton before signing a professional contract to sign for Scottish giants Rangers at Ibrox.
The 16-year-old defender has opted to head back to his homeland for the next stage of his footballing career where he will join up with the Light Blues’ Under-18s side.
Bell was yet to agree a deal to stay at Finch Farm and while the Toffees toiled, Rangers stole in to take him back to Scotland, where he is a youth international, as announced by Rangers B team and Youth on Twitter.
Bell may not be the only young player who will leave Everton this summer as The Insider on Twitter also claimed on 28 June that Emilio Lawrence and Ishe Samuel Smith have rejected scholarships with the club.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham are interested in Smith while Manchester United are keen on Lawrence along with Chelsea and City.
Worrying
This is a very worrying development for us and it could have huge ramifications on the first team in a few years’ time.
We could become very reliant on the quality and talent in our academy in the near future with our precarious financial situation which may see us become less able to splash the millions in the transfer market.
Anthony Gordon proved last season that we have the ability within the academy at Finch Farm to see some of them graduate to the senior side and be one of our star players.
But if they’re going to be leaving us before even signing professionally then we have a serious problem that needs to be addressed as soon as physically possible.
Frank Lampard needs as many bodies to choose from as possible but if we’re going to be losing even more youngsters before they’ve even signed then we could really be struggling both this season and in the future.