Jim Goodwin has admitted Dundee United are ready to fight tooth and nail to keep history maker Lorenzo Sassetti at Tannadice.
Youngest ever debutant
The young attacker became United’s youngest ever first-team player when he came off the bench to make his bow at the tender age of 15 years, five months and 12 days in the midweek Premier Sports Cup win over The Spartans.
Sassetti has represented both Italy and Scotland at youth level. Several top European clubs are keen on the youngster, who they could land for next to nothing as he has an EU passport.
Offer on the table
United have made an offer to Sassetti and hope to convince him to stay put and become the next top talent off the Tannadice conveyor belt. Goodwin stated: “Lorenzo deserves his opportunity.
“There's been a lot made on social media about the boy ripping up the under-19s league and at his own level with the under-17s and under-15s. He's got a decision to make in terms of nationality but, on the club front, we're desperate to keep him.
“I’ve spoken about the challenges that we all face in Scotland with trying to retain our best young players and we'll fight tooth and nail to hang on to Lorenzo. We've made him a really good offer and he knows that we think the world of him here.”
Rules debate
Premier Sports Cup rules mean that clubs can give debuts before their sixteenth birthday. Sassetti would need to wait until he turns 16 before he can play in the Premiership. Goodwin believes the rules should be looked at across the board.
He said: “It's great in this competition that, at 15, you can play because in the league the rules are a little bit different, which I don't really agree with. I think if you're 15 and you're good enough then you should be allowed to go and play.
“He's a great player with fantastic potential. I hope him and Cohen (Leiper) have enjoyed the experience. Lorenzo is a fantastic find for the guys in the academy that managed to recruit him.”
Youth pathway
The United manager has given youth a chance during his time at the club; Sam Cleall-Harding, Owen Stirton and Leiper just some of the academy graduates who have already made their mark.
The Irishman insisted: “During my time at Dundee United, I've given a number of debuts to several of the kids here and we want them to play. We try and sell them the dream.
“We talk to them about what the pathway looks like and what their development plan looks like. There's been great historical success at this club in bringing through young players and we'll continue to try and do that.”
Talent drain concerns
United and the rest of Scottish football are also fighting to try and stop the current talent drain where some of their best young assets are snapped up by top English clubs before they have even signed a professional contract. English clubs have done that since the exit from the EU. United have seen that to their cost this summer, with Everton striking a deal for young striker Kai Hutchison.
Goodwin accepted: “Heads can get turned. There are agents involved and it becomes very difficult for us to manage the situation.
“I certainly think that the governing bodies of world football need to have a look at it because we're doing all the hard work at the beginning. We're identifying the talent. The academy coaches are spending hours and hours and hours with these players developing them.
“And then, for us to do all that hard work and for one of the big boys to come in and take them off you is a bit of a kick in the stomach. So, something definitely does need to be done about it.”
