Jim Goodwin says St Mirren prospect Dylan Reid has been offered a new deal at the Buddies amid interest from Celtic and Rangers, plus clubs in England and Germany.
The talented teen was touted as one for the future at the start of the season by Goodwin and he has attracted interest. Celtic and Rangers are keen on his services while top clubs in England and Germany are also after him.
88' – RAN 3-0 STM
Change for St Mirren.
At 16 years and five days old, Dylan Reid becomes the youngest ever St Mirren player. He's on for Ethan Erhahon.#RANSTM | #BeInThatNumber pic.twitter.com/p1pBTH9PCw
— St Mirren FC (@saintmirrenfc) March 6, 2021
Reid became the youngest-ever Scottish Premiership player in St Mirren’s last match away to Rangers and Goodwin has offered him a new deal, hoping that the youngster commits his services to the Buddies.
Goodwin said: “Dylan’s been brilliant. The academy is really important to us as a club and I’ve said on numerous occasions that I want to be recognised as a manager who gives youngsters opportunities. Age doesn’t scare me.
“Dylan has turned 16 and we gave him his debut at Ibrox, which is no more than he deserved. He’s been training with the first-team for a number of weeks and he looks as if he belongs here. He’s not out of place.
Goodwin backs him. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“We are very hopeful that we will be able to sort out a longer term deal in the next couple of days. Talks are ongoing and that would be brilliant for the club. I had a really good meeting with his family to explain my feelings on his development.
“He’s had his head turned by a number of huge clubs and we aren’t just talking about just in Scotland. The two big boys here would love to have him, half-a-dozen of the big clubs in England would love to have him and there’s teams in Germany as well.”
Players such as Scotland stars John McGinn and Kenny McLean have progressed through the St Mirren academy. Goodwin believes Reid could be one of the next big hits.
McGinn came through the ranks. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)
The Buddies boss said: “We are very fortunate he is here but I think we have managed to put our point across to his family. We have shown some examples of players who have gone through the academy at St Mirren and obviously we talk about John McGinn because of what he’s doing in the English Premier League.
“Without putting too much pressure on him, we don’t see why Dylan can’t go on to do a similar thing. There’s lots of good, talented players who get lost in the system. They like the idea of playing for the big boys, pulling on the Aberdeen, Celtic and Rangers tracksuits.
“At 16 and 17, these boys are the best in the country. But by the time they hit 21, they still haven’t kicked a ball in the first-team. Hopefully some parents out there who have those options will think ‘let’s give St Mirren a shot’ because of what we do with our young players.”
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