Everton are reaching a key moment in the career of one of their youngest but most highly rated stars.
Douglass Lukjanciks cites legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin as his footballing idol and has already been discussed as a £10m target for some of the richest clubs in the world. Having been at Everton from the u12s group, he is now England’s u18 goalkeeper and faces off against Portugal today in a friendly for his nation.
Lukjanciks is still only 16 but that did not stop the tabloids linking him with an incredible £10m move to Manchester City back in March. The news did not really make sense. As an academy player Lukjanciks could simply have refused a scholarship offer and moved on a free transfer, with a tribunal deciding on the fee City would have to pay.
Instead he signed a scholarship deal with Everton in the summer alongside a number of other talents that include promising Northern Irish u19 striker Braidan Graham and new signing from Partick Thistle, Cieran Loney.
The scholarship deal is important for Everton and Lukjanciks. Usually lasting two years, it means he is unable to play for local clubs anymore and is essentially on a contract to remain at Everton for two years. Having already starred at levels above his age group there is now hope he can continue to develop to become a Premier League player.
The next step in his future will be a professional deal and while some players must wait until their 18th birthday and the expiry of the scholarship contract, the club are actually able to offer a professional contract from the player’s 17th birthday.
The club did this with Harrison Armstrong, with the talented midfielder signing a three year deal in summer this year at the age of 17. It’s a good strategy from the club, who will be hoping there will be fewer players choosing to leave at the end of their scholarship in the same way we saw with Thierry Small, who turned down a contract to join Southampton, and Ishe Samuels-Smith, who moved to Chelsea for £4m in compensation last summer.
Lukjanciks turns 17 early in October, which means the club will already be discussing whether to offer him a professional contract. It is a key moment in his future with the club. Fail to agree a contract and he will have to be sold to one of the many reported suitors. At the last count Aston Villa, Spurs, City, Leverkuson and a host of other European teams have been linked.
The good news for Everton is that Lukjanciks has already been talked about as a £10m player. He has already appeared for England at youth level – an honour he says is his biggest in sport so far – and the very fact Everton offer him a contract will influence any tribunal price. If he is sold then all money will go towards the farcical PSR rules as pure profit for the club.
Of course the more beneficial route will be if Lukjanciks signs for Everton. He’s a young player and suffered a difficult start to the season when the u18s lost 4-0 to his suitors Manchester City. The club’s number one u18 keeper at just 16, he may look at the spectacular progress of Georgie Pickford as a pathway that will bring him closer to the first team at a Premier League side.
Pickford, no related to Jordan, was the club’s u18 keeper last season and his rise has been both refreshing and unexpected. A string of superb performances for the club led to his promotion to u21 this season, where he too has appeared in England’s younger age sides. The fact he is now the club’s first choice u21 keeper, allowing loans for Harry Tyrer and Billy Crellin, is testament to the club’s development path and trust in his ability.
Lukjanciks could easily follow suit. Pickford will be looking at loan options next year and Lukjanciks is first in line for an u21 spot if he can perform for the u18s this year. With both backup keepers out of contract next year and Jordan Pickford now 30, there is a potential pathway for young talents to come through at Everton.
Whatever he and the club decides Lukjanciks is a real asset to the club. The next few months will determine whether that is as a top class goalkeeping prospect for the future or a PSR bonus.