Sources: Birmingham City submit Hall offer after Leeds United approach
Birmingham City are offering a professional contract to rising star George Hall as they look to fend off Premier League big guns led by Leeds United, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.
The Midlands-based Championship outfit are working on tying the 17-year-old to a pro deal after his England Under-18 debut last week.
A Birmingham source has told Football Insider that Hall is rated very highly by the club and they will refuse any bids unless they are significant.
This comes amid interest from top-flight clubs, whose talent spotters have been impressed by Hall's immense potential.
Leeds and Southampton are among the sides who have registered their interest in the teenager.
Birmingham-born Hall has been with the club's academy since the age of seven and he and his family can see a pathway from the academy, overseen by Paul Williams, to the first team.
Manager Lee Bowyer has given hope to all the starlets in the Birmingham academy by handing debuts to Hall's peers Marcel Oakley and Jordan James in recent weeks.
Hall made a good impression on his Under-18 debut against Holland last Thursday and scouts will be watching him closely when he is on international duty again tonight.
Birmingham will be wary of the allure of Leeds, whose age group set-up has been endorsed by England coaches including Under-21s manager Lee Carsley in recent weeks.
The club have invested heavily in top young talent in recent years, with Marcelo Bielsa renowned as a master of developing young players.