Patrick Vieira could be in for a difficult summer as Crystal Palace manager, with left-back Tyrick Mitchell attracting the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham, according to The Sun.
The 22-year-old, who has just been called up by England for the current international window, has averaged a 6.88 match rating in the Premier League this season according to SofaScore.
However, if the defender does leave the club, Vieira most likely won’t need to fork out too much on a replacement, as they have a ready-made successor in academy gem Tayo Adaramola, who has already appeared in the matchday squad for one top-flight fixture and played in two FA Cup games this term.
Paddy McCarthy was full of praise for the Ireland under-19 starlet, who has developed massively this season.
The Eagles under-23s boss said: “When you see Tayo [Adaramola] in full flow, it can take your breath away. But his stand-out quality is his attitude. He loves the game, and he loves to improve. He loves the club, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of coaching him. I can’t imagine I’ll be working with him for much longer.”
After making 13 Premier League 2 appearances this season, scoring one goal and setting up another, the 18-year-old was given his first start for the club in their FA Cup fifth round tie against Stoke City at the start of this month.
Vieira said after that game: “It was a really good experience for him. I think he did some really good stuff. He showed his potential.
“We have to support him and keep working with him. You could see that he was really nervous because he didn’t allow himself to go forward as much as he likes to do. That is part of developing young players as well.
“There is a platform there to develop him. Being there in games like that and in the first-team dressing room will give him that confidence to work as a player.”
Given Vieira’s abundant trust in young players, Adaramola is in the perfect place for him to continue developing; and should Mitchell leave Palace in the near future, it’s likely that the Eagles boss will fast-track the 18-year-old’s development and make him a first team regular sooner than scheduled.
In other news: Vieira can land Palace the “next big thing” in £22.5m-rated gem, he won’t cost a penny