According to Sky Sports, Alfie Osborne could be headed to the Premier League, as a host of teams are vying to sign the teenager prospect. Hearts are resigned to losing their top talent in one form or another, and Crystal Palace are ready to enter the race and rival Leeds United for the midfielder.
Alfie Osborne is ready to leave Hearts, with the Scottish side reluctantly accepting the fate and now demanding a modest compensation package of £190,000. At that price, there will be many top teams angling to sign the talented teenage midfielder, as there is considerable interest from Premier League sides.
This saga has been ongoing for a few weeks now, which has seen Leeds United, Aston Villa, Arsenal, and Manchester City all linked with a move. The idea that so many top teams are interested showcases how highly rated the Scottish teenager is in the market.
Leeds United are considered one of the front-runners to sign Osborne at the current moment, although Crystal Palace are also part of the race now. The latter had watched Osborne in action as part of scouting missions, with the Eagles now considering a move for the teenager.
Leeds United have shown they can develop young talents at a high level, and so have Palace over the last few years. However, this represents an interesting race for Osborne, who could have a choice of offers ahead of the summer.
Both Crystal Palace and Leeds United represent high-quality clubs for any player looking for a pathway into the big leagues. While he could have been a regular for Hearts in little to no time, the idea of developing his talent at a Premier League side would be enticing enough for the 17-year-old Scottish wonderkid.
It remains to be seen where Osborne plays next, as he will certainly look closely at the pathways presented to him towards the first team. Leeds United and Crystal Palace are expected to present sizeable offers to the player’s camp, which will then leave a decision to the player.
