Bas Sambou looks set to be leaving Coventry City at the end of the season.
The striker who has been scoring goals at U18's and U21 level this season, has been offered a new deal by the Sky Blues but has rejected it and is expected to be heading for one of the numerous Premier League clubs who have had him watched this season.
“I like Bassala – he’s actually quite a humble young guy and yet we find ourselves in a situation where it has been indicated to us by his advisors that he’s probably not going to sign a new contract," City manager Tony Mowbray told the Coventry Telegraph's Andy Turner.
“It happened last year with Kyle Spence who was offered a deal, decided not to take it and went off around the UK trialling and having a look.
“Bass had a pretty good youth cup this year, scored some goals and caught some interest. Bigger clubs than Coventry City look for young English players with potential and the way the game is at the moment there’s an opportunity between scholarship and first year professionals to go and jump ship.
“The only protection we would have is compensation so if anyone wanted to take him there would be issues because of his training over the last six or seven years, whatever it is, I think he came to us aged 11.
“It’s frustrating because I think the career path would have been good for him here. Can he see a way into the first team here at Coventry? He should be able to.
“I know he was a bit concerned, or his advisors were using it really, saying why isn’t he in the first team now. And as the manager I am telling him he’s not ready.
He’s a boy who has lots to learn about where to run, when to run and how to get physically strong enough. It’s OK scoring goals for the 18s in the youth cup but it’s a big jump from the 18s to the Under-21s and it’s not as if he’s scored bags of goals in the 21s, let alone the jump to the first team.
“So it’s a bit of impatience, I think, but it’s out of our hands. They have intimated that they are not going to look to re-engage. We have made them a more than fair offer, I would have to say, because we recognise his talent.
“I have had a long chat with both his advisors and him about his career path, hopefully to our first team, and yet it’s been intimated that he’s not going to sign.
“It’s disappointing, it’s frustrating but it’s part and parcel of life and we’ll end up doing the best deal we can wherever he ends up going, or the tribunal people will and we move on.”
More on this - http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-youngster-bassala-sambou-11142113