Fabrizio Romano: Everton talent Emilio Lawrence completed Manchester City medical
Everton youngster Emilio Lawrence is set to sign for Manchester City after completing his medical, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Scottish talent had decided to move on this summer and was being chased by both sides of Manchester, but the Premier League champions won the race and with a full agreement now reached he will sign within days.
It is due to be a long-term deal at the Etihad, in a move which Goodison News pundit Kevin Campbell finds disappointing but stressed shouldn’t be seen as a wider indictment of the club’s ability to keep hold of young players.
Reliable transfer journalist Romano wrote on his personal Twitter account on Wednesday morning (20 July): “Manchester City are now set to sign Scottish top talent Emilio Lawrence (16) from Everton, also part of U23 team last season. Medical done and full agreement completed.
“Long-term deal to be signed in the next days but all details have been agreed.”
A shame
As Campbell says, it is impossible for any team to keep hold of every single prospect, but that doesn’t mean it is not unfortunate to see a youngster walk out the door when much is expected from him.
Despite only being 16, he had thrived in the Toffees’ under-18s set up and had also featured a number of times for the under-23s.
First-team manager Frank Lampard is someone who has proven to be willing to give emerging players a chance so far in his career, having presided over the long-awaited graduation of academy talent at Chelsea.
He also appears to be turning to some of his younger charges this summer, such as with the increasing possibility that Lewis Warrington is kept in the senior squad.
Anthony Gordon is clearly the poster boy for academy stars at the club currently, having become a fixture under both Lampard and Rafael Benitez in 2021/22.
Hopes would have been high that after an impressive year at the club Lawrence might be on his way to follow in the winger’s footsteps, but instead he is headed for the lavish surroundings of the City.
If he makes it into their first-team then it will be a testament to his ability as the list of those who have done so on a regular basis recently is not long.