Max Clayton: Crewe striker still weighing up offer of three-year deal
Last updated on .From the section Football
Crewe Alexandra are still waiting for Max Clayton's decision after offering the teenage striker a three-year deal.
The England Under-19 striker has so far refused to sign a new contract that has been on the table for 18 months.
"We haven't given him any deadline. If he stays, great. He'll be a big part of the team," said boss Steve Davis.
"We always wanted to keep developing him. We'd welcome him being here for the next three years. That's what he's been offered," he told BBC Radio Stoke.
Clayton scored nine times in his first full season with Crewe in 2012-13, including the goal that clinched the club's Johnstone's Paint Trophy victory over Southend at Wembley.
But he netted just twice last season before breaking an ankle in the FA Cup first round tie with Wycombe in November and being ruled out for the next five months.
Although fit to return before the end of the season, he was not risked in Crewe's ultimately successful fight against relegation, - but did score the winning goal for the club's Under-21 side in the Professional Development League Two Final.
If the 19-year-old does move on, Crewe are guaranteed a fee as he is still under 24.
But Davis, who had also been expecting interest in skipper Matt Tootle, said there had been no inquiries about any of his players.
"He (Tootle) is the obvious one after the season he had, but we have had nothing and I hope it stays that way. We don't want to be losing any of our better players."
Davis is in advanced talks about bringing in two players on loan from Premier League clubs, one of them from a source with whom the Alex did business last season.
"I've got a chance to take a couple of Premier League stars who have been offered to us," he said. "I'm not sure whether they're going to report back to their clubs pre-season or start with us. And we haven't talked about what we'd have to pay."
Meanwhile, Crewe have appointed Staffordshire-based Chris Johnson as their chief scout, looking to tap into his knowledge of the game at Under-21s league level.
