Big clubs spending a fortune on the future

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By Rob Tanner

The Premier League clubs broke their record for a transfer window when £630million was spent in the summer, but that spending power is not just restricted to first-team level.

Clubs are spending more and more on scouting and recruiting the next generation of players as well, with astronomical amounts being spent on young teenagers tipped to flourish through the academy system.

 

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   City development manager Steve Beaglehole says youth recruitment has 'gone crazy'

That has certainly been Leicester City's experience since they gained category one academy status this season and are now competing with the elite academies in the country, where it seems money is no object.

Now it seems youth and development football is big business as well as at first-team level, with clubs offering big money for the hottest young prospects.

 

The City boys are learning fast the realities of top-tier football as their own leagues reflect the financial advantages gained at first-team levels.

The competition between clubs and among agents to recruit the best young talent has certainly led to an increased bidding culture, but it is something City have to deal with.

The academy side have found life tough this season and have suffered defeats to the international looking sides of Manchester United, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Everton.

The development squad have started their campaign slightly better, and their 2-1 victory over Stoke eight days ago has lifted them into the top 11 of the Premier League, a position they want to retain at the end of the season as the league splits into two with the best sides remaining in the top division.

It was an excellent victory against a Stoke side that included former Rangers player Mo Edu, who has played in the Champions League, his former Rangers team-mate Jamie Ness and American international Brek Shea, who Stoke spent £2.5m on.

Development manager Steve Beaglehole says the spending at development and youth level has dramatically grown over the last few years.

"Jon Rudkin (academy director) and I were talking the other day about how, three or four years ago, we were playing all the big boys, the Tottenhams and the Villas," he said.

"One year we went all year unbeaten and won the whole Academy Premier League. We beat Arsenal in the semis and Sunderland in the final.

"But during the period since, those bigger clubs have spent £4m or £5m each year and bought players. We haven't been able to do that. The gaps have grown bigger. We are aware of it.

"The priority is the first team and to get into the Premier League, and then we can probably move forward and invest more money into the recruitment of younger players."

Beaglehole believes the situation does cause issues for some younger players.

"It is unbelievable now," he said. "You talk about 15 or 16-year-old players, if they can be legally tied up.

"By the time a player is 17, he has an agent. That is how it is now.

"There is so much going on behind the scenes with players and it becomes difficult for them.

"There is money to be made on them. The game has changed a lot. The investment at the younger age groups is astronomical.

"It used to be a washing machine for the mum, then it was a washing machine and a fridge, then a car was thrown in.

"Now it is a house with a pool. It has gone crazy."

Football has always been big business, but it seems it is getting even bigger.

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