A 15-year-old Belgian goalkeeper earmarked as “the next Thibaut Courtois” is being chased by three of England’s biggest club.
Mile Svilar currently plays for Belgian giants Anderlecht but has been attracting interest from Premier League teams after excelling in youth tournaments.
According to the Daily Mail in the UK, Svilar has already had a trial at Chelsea, where Courtois plays, and has been invited to training by Arsenal as Manchester United also stay in the loop.
His father has stepped in to try and cool down speculation, after Svilar won the ‘goalkeeper of the tournament’ award at three prestigious U-17 youth competitions this year despite only being 14.
“He has trialled at Chelsea and Manchester United also enquired,” Ratko Svilar said. “Everyone wants him. But we already have an agreement with Anderlecht, even though he can’t sign a contract until his 16th birthday. There is nowhere better for him than Anderlecht. At his 20th birthday, we’ll see.”
So, come back in five years when Svilar is 20 is the answer. At the age of 20, Courtois had already been signed by Chelsea and was loaned out to Atletico Madrid and played regularly in La Liga for the reigning Spanish champions.
Will Svilar fulfill his potential and follow in Courtois’ footsteps? It’s very early days but remember the name: Mile Svilar.