Notts County are keen to tie Fabian Spiess down to a professional contract in order to ward off interest from Premier League clubs.
Premier League clubs eyeing Magpies 'keeper
Notts County are keen to tie youngster Fabian Spiess down to a professional contract in order to ward off interest from circling Premier League clubs.
Spiess, who is currently on schoolboy terms at Meadow Lane, was initially spotted by youth coach Mick Leonard at a centre of excellence in Dubai in 2008 when he was just 14.
Now 18, the young goalkeeper has yet to play for the Magpies' first team but has impressed for the youth side as well as during loan spells at non-league Lewes and Corby Town.
His performances have caught the eye of a number of Premier League scouts, with Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal all believed to have watched the German play this season.
County manager Keith Curle confirmed there was interest in the young shot-stopper, but he believes that can only be a good thing.
"If there is a player rumoured to be attracting interest, other clubs jump on board," Curle told the
Nottingham Evening Post. "The more people who watch him the better."
Back-up
Spiess is currently training with the club's No.1 Stuart Nelson as well as back-up keepers Rob Burch and Liam Mitchell.
The trio are all out of contract at the end of the season and, with their futures unknown, the next campaign could offer Spiess more first-team opportunities.
Curle is confident the player is ready to make the step up to senior level and revealed the club's desire to keep him away from the clutches of the Premier League giants.
"I've seen him in training with the other keepers and he doesn't look out of place," he added. "He's got good hands, good physique, good stature and a presence.
"Negotiations are going on with the chief executive. I think he's in the boot of his car at the minute and not getting out!"
