Tottenham starlet Marcus Edwards wanted by Bayer Leverkusen in permanent deal
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino compared teenager to Lionel Messi when he handed him first team debut as a 17-year-old but Leverkusen want to take him to Germany and give him regular football
TOTTENHAM starlet Marcus Edwards is wanted by Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
The German club want the highly-rated teenager on a permanent basis, believing he could follow Jadon Sancho by making his mark in the league after quitting England.
Edwards was compared to Lionel Messi by Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino when he handed him his first team debut as a 17-year-old.
And the London club quickly tied him down to a long term professional deal which still has two years left to run.
But despite being a regular for England at youth team age groups and being a part of the side who won the European under-19 Championship last year, the 19-year-old has struggled to get a Spurs first team chance.
And now he could be the latest young English player to quit the country and move overseas to continue his development as a player.
SunSport understands Leverkusen have made contact with Spurs to begin talks over a fee for the youngster, who until an ankle operation soon after his debut had been regarded as one of the country's best young talents.
The German club fear they are about to lose at least one of their two much-wanted wide men Leon Bailey or Julian Brandt before the transfer window closes.
And they have highlighted Edwards as the ideal player to come in should either be sold.
Chelsea have shown an interest in signing Bailey this month, while Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is undertsood to be keen on Brandt.
The fact Leverkusen have begun the process of trying to sign Edwards suggests they are moving closer to allowing one of their current stars to leave.
Should Edwards make the move, he would become the latest young English talent to move abroad in order to get the regular first team football they need to develop their games.
And he would be the second product of Tottenham's academy to leave within the space of a month, after Reo Griffiths snubbed a professional contract and opted to join Lyon.
England starlet Sancho left Manchester City last season and is already starting to establish himself as a regular in the first team at Borussia Dortmund.