Chelsea and Watford are understood to be in the race to sign Gloucester City youngster Noah Smerdon.
According to claims from Devon Live, Exeter City are the latest club to express an interest in recruiting the full-back, who has been earning plaudits for his displays at non-league level.
Smerdon has, as per the report, already trained with Watford as his future at Gloucester continues to come under scrutiny, while Chelsea are stated to be potential suitors as well.
Both Premier League clubs reportedly kept tabs on the defender throughout the course of last season, with interest gathering ahead of a possible summer move to one of England’s top four divisions.
Smerdon appeared to have come close to joining Forest Green Rovers, but no transfer came to fruition after he briefly appeared for the club’s reserve team.
Gloucester manager Mike Cook recently discussed the interest in the 18-year-old, confirming that Exeter are among the clubs who are keen to recruit him this summer.
He said:
Noah’s just waiting to see whether Exeter City are going to pay any money for him. So he’s in a little bit of limbo.
We don’t know what’s going to happen with him, so that might mean I have to look for a left-back, but if nobody comes in for him, then he’s happy to sign again with us next year.
