Highly experienced doesn't equate to any good. I've always considered McArthur as industrious but by no means a passer. Surely you see us play - do I have to go over our lack of creativity in midfield? It's not my rating of Atta that matters - he is rated.
As for others, I didn't massively research the subject there are too many to fully list. From the past I was thinking obvious ones like Rooney, plus about twenty similar. Today, Greenwood, Foden, Hudson-Odoi, Brooks - there are maybe 50 who have played well at Premier League level over the last two seasons. Look at the Liverpool ones for instance.
I guess we bought through AWB and made a hefty sum. What was he 18 or 19? And now Mitchell - around the same age, for balance.
My point on a rated youngster is play him in a game and make sure he's signed up. He could flop, as you imply. He could be good and worth 50 mil. Basically, I'm not happy with the idea of us losing a highly rated youngster for peanuts, or even nothing.

Red and Blue Army!

It's an interesting point but my reading was that we signed him from Millwall. Surely, he is on some kind of terms?
The other thing I'm wondering is, if we offered a contract - we will get a tribunal fee, or whatever the equivalent is today, if he signs for someone else?

Red and Blue Army!

Yes, I do so see us play. Yes, we lack creativity in midfield. You are advocating playing an untried, if highly rated, 16 year old - who you '' guarantee '' can pass the ball better than experienced Premier League players, but have never actually seen play.

Read that back and ask yourself exactly how much sense that makes.

He hasn't even signed professional terms for Palace, yet you think he should be considered for first team.

Yes, it's annoying that we stand to lose him, I imagine Millwall felt the same way when we signed him from them, but that's the game.

Old, Ungifted and White

I’m sure every Premier League club has got a youngster, probably several, who are “destined for great things” as they say. As we all know the vast majority don’t make it. If he thinks he would be better off somewhere else we should just let him go. It’s not like we have a manager who likes to give youth a chance anyway.

Football really needs to take a look at this. We have spent millions on our academy and no doubt millions more running it. Yet we can’t lock youngsters in with a contract. So any real potential we find can just walk whenever they want. This system is a free funnel of players to the Super clubs. If A Super club wants someone like Zion they get him free. Not only will he see the big lights and money but for sure they bribe them to go. Bit like we did to Millwall.

I have no idea about any contract but I believe he has accepted a scholarship from Palace. Not sure why we are, apparently, bound to pay Millwall money