Midfielder Tom Davies has signed a new deal at Everton keeping him at Goodison Park for another four years.
This announcement is further evidence of the importance of the youth system at Everton continuing to produce Premier League quality players.
Davies is one of a crop of youngsters who have come through the ranks at Goodison in recent years, alongside players like Ross Barkley, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jon jo Kenny.
Like most of those players, Davies is a scouser. And I always feel is important for the Blues to have at least a sprinkling of local lads in their squad.
Although Davies has not had as much of an impact this season with Andre Gomes usually favoured alongside Idrissa Gueye in central midfield, his new contract underlines how important young talent is to the new regime’s plans at Everton.
Despite some big money signings in recent years, it’s clear that finding and bringing through young talent is critical to the long-term strategy of Director of Football Marcel Brands.
If the Toffees are to develop a squad with the necessary depth to sustain a challenge for domestic and hopefully to, European prizes, then young players will be key.
Obviously if you can find and develop enough young players and they are able to make it in the harsh environment of the Premier League, it can save you vast sums in inflated transfer fees.
An obvious example is Harry Kane at Tottenham. Kane has become one of the very best strikers in World football and is probably worth anything upwards of £150 million in the transfer market.
Having saved a small fortune by being able to bring him through their ranks, Spurs could now reap a huge fortune if they choose to and cashed in on him.
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Of course players like Kane are exceptional and not every talented youngster will go on to fulfil or even exceed their potential as he has. But wouldn’t it be nice if in a season or two we are talking about Calvert-Lewin in similar terms!
Linked to all this is the fact that Everton’s Under-23’s have claimed the Premier League 2 title for the second time in three seasons. At least the Toffees have won a league title this season before them lot across the park manage it!
This success is a tremendous boon to the club. Several of those players have been marked down for their potential and hopefully at least a few of them will graduate to the first-team squad.
Keeping this flow of talent coming through could prove critical in building, developing and maintaining Everton’s competitiveness over the next few seasons.