Saturday, 22nd June, 2013
League One side Crewe Alexandra are approaching D-Day on deciding on the immediate future of in-demand starlet Max Clayton.
The 18-year-old striker sees his contract at Gresty Road expire next summer and he has so far refused to pen an extension, leaving the Football League Trophy holders with a difficult decision.
Clayton has been linked with Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool, while his talent is such an open secret that for one Crewe match day, scouts from 17 of the 20 top flight clubs at the time headed to Gresty Road to monitor his progress.
The time is coming when Crewe must decide whether to seek to cash in on Clayton this summer or risk a tribunal setting a compensation fee if he leaves next year – and that could be substantially lower than the value the Cheshire side place on his head.
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Speaking about the imminent decision on Clayton’s future, Crewe assistant manager Neil Baker told the Crewe Chronicle: "We won’t act on it straight away. We’ll discuss it when we return to full training and everyone is here. It’ll probably be a decision also made by board members.
"This goes for all players who won’t extend a contract – do we wait and get compensation or do we sell them early? That’s something we have to decide on."
Clayton has consistently seen his talent recognised at international level, with call-ups to England’s Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 squads throughout his career so far.
He made his Crewe debut in 2011 against Morecambe.
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