Striker Connor Wickham celebrates his 17th birthday today and is therefore finally able to sign his first professional contract. Despite plenty of interest from Premier League clubs, the Colchester-based youngster seems set to remain with the Blues.
Wickham won’t be putting pen to paper today as he is still away with England’s U17s, with whom he is likely to win his ninth cap on Thursday when his side face Slovakia in their final European Championships elite qualifying group game at Northampton’s Sixfields.
The youngster is due back at the club on Friday and it is likely that Town, with whom Wickham has signed a pre-contract agreement, will look to get him to put pen to paper soon after that.
Scouts from Premier League sides have been watching the 6ft 3in tall striker since his days as a schoolboy with Town and before that with Reading’s academy, but with his chances of first team football likely to be limited in the top flight, it’s believed the striker prefers to remain at Portman Road.
While the interest of Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United has grabbed all the headlines, Fulham and Spurs were amongst those keeping the closest eye on Town's hottest prospect most recently.
It’s understood that this could explain the presence of Alan Curbishley and his former Charlton assistant Mervyn Day at recent Town games, with the former believed to be scouting for Tottenham and the latter for the Cottagers.
Last week manager Roy Keane said he expected Wickham to sign on his return, while former Blue Paul Goddard, who works for the player’s representatives, Jonathan Barnett’s Stellar Group, said in December that he anticipated him staying with Town.
So far, Wickham has made five starts and 20 sub appearances for the Blues, scoring his first two senior goals at Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup in August and opening his league account in the recent victory over Scunthorpe.