Sheffield United, Cardiff City and Southampton are among clubs chasing former Bristol Rovers academy player Miguel Freckleton.
The 18-year-old defender has impressed in non-league for Mangotsfield United, making eight appearances in the Southern League Division One South & West.
A Bristol lad, he was on Rovers' books as a midfielder as a youngster before leaving the club in his early teens.
Freckleton, now a centre-half, later joined South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS) as part of the football programme led by Dave Hockaday, the former Leeds United and Forest Green Rovers manager.
And Bristol Live understands the players' development at SGS and Cossham Street has caught the eye of multiple clubs in the Football League pyramid, with the Blades, Bluebirds, Saints and Hull City among the contenders.
Freckleton has played trial games for those clubs, with Sheffield United understood to be in pole position to sign the player, although Cardiff also fancy their chances.
The left-footed centre-back impressed in a behind-closed-doors game with the Blades, holding his own against senior pros.
SGS has seen several of its students break into the professional game in recent years, including Antoine Semenyo and Saikou Janneh, who are on the books at Bristol City.
Rendijs Kelnins (Forest Green Rovers), Dan McBeam (Barnsley) and Kacper Lopata, who has since joined Sheffield United from Brighton & Hove Albion, have also come through the SGS pathway under Hockaday's tutelage.
It is understood the Gas retain rights to compensation should Freckleton ink a professional deal with another club, although it would be a modest fee.
Freckleton could be the second player in recent times to sign for a club in he top two tiers after leaving Rovers' academy in their teens, with Evander Grubb earning a scholarship at Huddersfield Town in 2020 after impressing as a 16-year-old for Bristol Manor Farm.
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