Midfielder Kundai Benyu reportedly could leave the Blues this summer with a number of clubs said to have been keeping tabs on him during his loan spell at Aldershot this season.

According to the Daily Mail, the 19-year-old’s displays for the Shots have attracted scouts from Tottenham, West Ham, Aston Villa and Celtic and he could move on with his contract up this summer. If that were to happen, the Blues would be due youth compensation for the academy product.

Town manager Mick McCarthy has previously said he intends to take up a one-year option on the Camden-born youngster’s contract and offer him new terms. However, we understand that there are conditions relating to the option which have been under discussion between the club and his representatives.

While there may well have been clubs eyeing him during his highly successful spell with the Shots, interest from clubs of the size of those reported, and particularly Spurs, would be a surprise.

After a difficult 2015/16 in which he admitted he had shown a poor attitude, Benyu was allowed to join Tottenham’s U19s for a NextGen tournament in Amsterdam last summer but failed to impress.

Benyu subsequently apologised to Town boss McCarthy at the start of pre-season training last July and was a regular in the U23s until joining Aldershot on loan in December.

Thank you for everything @kundaibenyu_, you've created many great memories and made many friends here.

Best wishes for a fantastic career pic.twitter.com/QtlZyOCtHS

— Aldershot Town FC (@OfficialShots) May 7, 2017

Benyu helped the Shots reach the Vanarama National League play-offs by finishing fifth but they were beaten 5-2 on aggregate by Tranmere over two legs. The Blues youngster missed Saturday’s second leg with the knee injury he sustained in the first match. The central midfielder scored five goals in 22 starts and one sub appearance for the Shots.

Photo: TWTD

jas0999 added 17:44 - May 8 Evans will be rubbing his hands together! Wouldn't be the first time significant money has been received from a youth player leaving. Money conveniently not mentioned by the club! Odd.
2

ArnieM added 17:45 - May 8 Ooh look! Yet another talent set to "walk away" from this Fl_ucking incompetent Club, for sod all. # EvansOUT # McCarthyOUT
20

ScottCandage added 17:54 - May 8 Yeah, we shouldn't let him go if we can keep him.
6

vanmunt added 17:56 - May 8 @arniem Can you really blame them, I would imagine many have an eye on moving on with the incumbent dinosaur. What chance do any of them shifting the 'proper blokes' from the side and the disgusting treatment of kenlock sunday. Fed up with moaning on here, I'm sick of writing it as much as I would imagine you are of reading it. Completely fed up with every thing ITFC and need a break.

20

Pip50 added 17:57 - May 8 Conference to Premier good one. Only a day in and the bullsh.t starts.
3

OwainG1992 added 18:01 - May 8 He is the kind of player I imagine a number of decent footballing team would like to bring in. I'm afraid under Mick he won't progress. If he went to a Liverpool or Spurs as daft as it sounds he's probably going to better off.
10

blues1 added 18:08 - May 8 Sorry guys but when are you gonna realise that theres nothing anyone at the club can do about academy players leaving at The end of their youth contract. So nobody's fault. It's just the rules. And jas0999 it's not a substantial amount neither. Just another post from you to attack the club regardless of the facts. I like you am totally p****d off with itfc right now but at least don't slag them off for something they can do nothing about.

7

iaintaylorx added 18:20 - May 8 What we should be doing, is signing this lad up to a longer term contract! Get him in and around the squad, appoint a new manager who lets youth progress and has new ideas!! This kid has huge potential and if we let him go, we'd be stupid!!
7

OldClactonBlue added 18:23 - May 8 Blues1, there is something the club can do about it. Demonstrate how much better there chance of success is by staying. But that would not be true under the current manager.
7

ClausThomsen added 18:30 - May 8 From Benyu's perspective he isn't going to play under MM, it's a no-brainer. If McCarthy was sacked we could convince him but we've probably left that too late. #shambles
5

blueconscience added 18:35 - May 8 So another youth product who won't be given a chance under Sir Micks Journeyman mindset.
5

ElderGrizzly added 18:38 - May 8 jas0999 - how is it not mentioned? It's stated in the accounts....
4

Bluebell added 18:48 - May 8 So Prem clubs are looking at him but we couldn't even give him a start off the bench! This seems to be what will happen to any of our promising youngsters. Who will be next? Dozzell maybe. Hopefully it is just paper talk and we can keep these youngsters and give them a chance to be around the first team squad.
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therein61 added 18:48 - May 8 Good man management is all about keeping people happy and any problems dealt with in house not hanging players out to dry in public questioning their attitude(no wonder he wants to leave as stated by his agent) when the foul mouthed leader we are stuck with has an attitude that stinks the building out!! unless you are a proper bloke(creep) of course
8

shortmarine1969 added 18:49 - May 8 Blues1 i would say that just around 1 mil for 2 young non squad players is substantial...Ford and Brown....look them up , see,ing how we bring in Moore for 10k .!!..So Jas0999 has a point as these guys are not mentioned in press pieces or Town releases...(granted.. in accounts)
3

christiand added 18:59 - May 8 No smoke without fire. This will be another young prospect that we'll lose no doubt, for peanuts but think its a good deal at the time!
3

jas0999 added 19:05 - May 8 Blues1 - the club received around £600K for young Brown leaving last Summer. That in my book is a substantial amount. Then there was Ford. In total we have pocketed well over a MILLION POUNDS. Big money. Not promoted by this badly run club. I stand by my previous comment.
2

jas0999 added 19:07 - May 8 Elder - again, it's not mentioned by the club when they are spinning a yarn of increased wages etc. Etc. Never mention savings on players leaving and at no point do I remember then publicly mentioning fees they receive for players like these youngsters. They sell the 'poor Marcus' line, but don't mention when he cashes in. As he did with a £5M profit two years ago. The club is full of spin.

7

Battyboy added 19:20 - May 8 No football minded player will ever get a game under MM. The 23s are an example how to play football, passing, keeping the ball and playing the beautiful game. Regrettably this is not MM style and sadly I see a lot of talent moving on! Wake up IPSWICH Town and look to the future.
8

Campag_Velocet added 19:23 - May 8 Blues1 - Benyu is on a pro contract, so even if his extra option is not triggered, because he's under the age of 24, any English club signing him would have to pay a compensation fee to cover the costs of his training. However, because he's not on an academy contract, the fee isn't one that would have to be negotiated (or set by a tribunal).
2

martin587 added 19:29 - May 8 What chance will he ever get of playing here.None whatsoever.If he has any sense he will move on.!!
5

Radlett_blue added 19:49 - May 8 He's played pretty well in the 5th tier, by all accounts. Hope he doesn't get carried away & disappear into the black hole of the PL U23 teams. If he has any sense, he'll try to move to a League 1 or 2 club that likes to pass the ball. He won't get much game time at Town next season if Mick is still in charge.
7

cat added 19:49 - May 8 Putting Benyu needs before my own very selfish ones!!, for feck sake let the poor lad go, or risk another poor lads career going down the 'karsey' under the 'throwback claw' that is DINO MICKS
5

RegencyBlue added 19:56 - May 8 And here is the problem. We will not buy quality and we cannot hang on to our decent youngsters. The five point plan looks to be coming up short already to me!
7

mutters added 20:01 - May 8 Who are all these "talented youngsters" that people keep complaining we can't hang on to? Most of the players that we release end up playing at a lower level, so why do people still believe we are losing out here? I'd thought we want to improve the squad not be hamstrung by keeping players that aren't good enough
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