Abdulhafiz TeslimEverton starlet Braiden Graham is likely to get a taste of men’s football next season after impressing in the Toffees’ academy setup.
The 18-year-old is arguably the most talked-about youngster at the club following an outstanding individual campaign last season.
According to the Liverpool Echo, Graham is attracting interest from Football League clubs, with an acceptance within Everton that he may be ready to take the next step beyond academy football.
Braiden Graham could make the jump to the Championship
Graham’s progress will be assessed during pre-season by David Moyes and his coaching staff before a decision is made on the best pathway for his development.
Everton are aware of interest from Football League clubs in the Finch Farm graduate, and a move could even come at Championship level.
Graham scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 18 Premier League 2 appearances, establishing himself as one of England’s brightest young prospects.
His performances have generated plenty of excitement among Everton supporters, although Moyes has stressed the importance of being patient with the talented winger.
It may surprise some to see Graham make the leap from Under-21s football straight into the Championship, but there can be no wasted time in his development.
Everything depends on how highly Everton rate his potential, but there is little doubt that they have one of the country’s most promising young talents on their hands.
Many top clubs place trust in their most gifted academy players by either integrating them into the first team or loaning them out to competitive Championship sides. Just look at Liverpool’s handling of Rio Ngumoha.
Graham could make national team debut against France
Graham received a somewhat surprising call-up to the Northern Ireland senior squad for their latest round of international friendlies.
He watched from the bench as Michael O’Neill’s side secured a 1-0 victory over Guinea and was unable to make his debut, but he could get his first senior appearance when Northern Ireland face France on Monday.
Regardless of whether he features, Everton will no doubt be monitoring his progress closely and gathering feedback on how he has adapted to the senior international environment.
That experience could provide valuable insight into how he might cope with the demands of a loan move away from Finch Farm.
Graham needs a fresh challenge and the opportunity to step outside his comfort zone in order to continue developing. While the Championship is renowned for its physical intensity, a move to the second tier could prove to be the ideal next step in his development.
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Abdulhafiz Teslim
