(Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)
Dundee United head coach Thomas Courts says the Scottish Premiership club ‘are in the business of developing young players in order to sell them’ as West Ham United take an interest in Kerr Smith.
The 16-year-old centre-back became the youngest United player to feature in the Dundee derby on Sunday in a 1-0 win over their city rivals from Dens Park. Smith is being tracked by West Ham United as his potential continues to grow and he has been subject of bids from other Premier League clubs (DR).
Smith is wanted by West Ham United. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group via Getty Images)
Courts said: “I want young players to spend quite a bit of time here so that the fans can enjoy them for a longer period of time. That means if any young player leaves here, the fans will feel they’ve got to know him and have been able to be a part of their journey.
“It also means the young players know they are still part of a big club. There’s no doubt from us what we are. We are in the business of developing young players in order to sell them. But we need to sell them to the right clubs, for the right value and at the right time. (The derby) was a good step in the right direction for Kerr.
“But we aren’t getting overly excited because we already knew his qualities. It’s about giving him the right opportunities to keep developing.”
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