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

PhilTWTD added 20:40 - May 8 blues1 As per other posts, not an academy player, has a pro deal, and the club are protected by the compensation thing if he moves on, which I doubt he will, to be honest. Think the Premier League links are v unlikely. Think he is just being talked up as part of the ongoing negotiation! Expect he'll be here next season.
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tractorboybig added 06:22 - May 9 Not our style at present, will be sold, need an old has been hoofer instead.
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Ferguson added 10:48 - May 9 FFS. Even the close season's full of bad news ! If we'd played him just once his value would've increased. But then again he fell out with MM didn't he.
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CBMTOBWMMBG added 11:29 - May 9 What are the facts (as we know them). Had a bad attitude, obviously was not good enough yet for Championship, played well in the Conference, had fallen out with current manager. This is all agent talk.
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Seasider added 18:23 - May 9 Bad attitude,who says,McCarthy. Don't know facts;but he does tend to criticise the younger players JET,Kenlock and now this lad. Perhaps they dared to question the know it all Yorkshireman. Expect we shall never know;but would not like him to be discarded so quickly,even Jordan Rhodes had a handful of games before he was moved on.
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Currie10 added 00:50 - May 10 Arnie - the lad had to aplogise and has admitted his attitude was absolutely awful before. I'm sure if he wishes to commit his future he'd get more opportunities next year. Also - surely the likes of Blanchfield / McDonnell and several others need to go down this route rather than the ... under 23 rubbish.
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