I see where the argument is coming from with youngers moving to big clubs.
It's obvious that big clubs hoover up the talent and they stagnate (maybe they should push for loans at smaller clubs for development) but is it hard to turn down a much big offer even if that is short term.
It's a well known fact that 80% of the kids in the academies go onto the scrap heap and never make it pro. I think i would take the money. You don't know how you will develop or if injuries will take their toll or whether you are going to be good enough at that age. Unless you were a first team regular in a prem side, anyone lower down the league would be muggins not to take the money to go to the top imo.
But what would you say to your kid?
knowing that at 15 he is in demand and his current club will prob debut him in firsts in a year or so.
I agree they stagnate, they don't work hard enough etc etc.
Would you put your kid in the meat grinder?
Lets look at a few examples:
Raheem sterling. bought 15 from QPR. QPr could not say no. Kid took money. kid then got agent and **** on LFC and went to city. Kid will prob have long mercenary career and end up in mls or something
Dani Pacheco. Bought in too, no agent, played and starred at u17 level for spain. Debut was delayed by rafa. played and was average at u19 euros for spain. went on loands. ended up on scrap heap. Was it work rate, luck.. who knows. no heart in ti maybe i dunno
Suso. Bought in. Played under rogers early. was awful. got sent on loan/demanded to go on loan. told lfc to stuff it and went to AC. huges success thus far there.
Jerome Sinclair. Bought as kid. Debuted by rodgers way too early. Got agent told klopp to stuff it and went to watford. sent off on loan. not looking good
those are bought players only btw... i could quote 50 local kids who never got close.
if you were raheems dad would you have got him that agent or would you have let him go up north in first place? I dunno I would. but then he could be still at qpr if i were.
IMO keep em close to home and under the thumb.