Peter Lynch

Fri 14 April 2023 12:40, UK

Everton manager Sean Dyche has backed his academy staff for having a “fair view” of the club’s talented young players.

His comments come amid the expected departure of 19-year-old midfielder Isaac Price, who is reportedly close to agreeing a deal with Belgian club Standard Liege [The Athletic].

But noting the example of striker Ellis Simms, Dyche believes there is certainly an appropriate pathway in place for young players to break into the first team.

“I don’t know the history of it, obviously,” said Dyche about Price’s situation, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo. “Coming in, I think there is a fair view of the young players here. 

“You have seen Simmsy play games and a couple of the younger lads have been training with us – the really young lads, a couple of the Under-18s as well, so I certainly believe in the pathway for young players.”

Moving on

At 19, teenage midfielder Price has perhaps reached the point in his career quicker than others where he wants to test himself in the first team of a European club.

He is, however, one of many youngsters who are turning to opportunities away from England to progress their careers.

International football will also be on Price’s mind, with the midfielder definitely in with a chance of becoming a regular for Northern Ireland if he is playing regular first-team football at a high-profile Belgian club.

Such an opportunity may not be possible if he continued to sit on the bench for the Toffees or indeed was loaned out to a lower-league club.

Price impressed in pre-season under then-Everton manager Frank Lampard, with the boss having shown his preference for giving young players opportunities during his time at Goodison Park and indeed in his first spell as Chelsea manager.

Dyche will not have seen much of Price in action, but the manager is almost helpless if indeed reports are to be believed that the youngster has no desire to renew his contract with the Toffees, which expires this summer.