Brentford are looking to sign Preston North End teenager Theo Mawene this summer.
According to Alan Nixon, the Premier League club is keeping track of the 17-year-old’s progress with Lancashire.
The adolescent, the son of former North End favourite Youl Mawene, is yet to make it into Paul Heckingbottom’s first-team plans at Deepdale.
However, the bright young talent did make his league debut for the team under Ryan Lowe at the conclusion of last season, coming on as a substitute against Leicester City in April 2024.
Brentford eyeing Preston North End teenager Theo Mawene
Brentford are apparently leading the battle to sign Mawene from Preston at the end of the season.
The teenager will be 18 in July, but his future could be with the London club unless a new deal is agreed upon with North End in the near future.
The teenager will be a free agent in the summer, but a compensation package will still need to be agreed upon with the Championship club if he does go, as he will be handed a professional contract at Deepdale.
If the two teams cannot reach an agreement, an impartial tribunal will step in to set the parameters of the accord.
It is expected that the figure will be minimal, implying that his departure might be a significant blow to Preston if it occurs.
Brentford is reportedly putting together a package to entice the player to Thomas Frank’s side months before the summer transfer window opens, with versatile attacking midfielder Mawene expected to join the Bees’ B-team if he decides to leave.
Mawene helped North End reach the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup this year by producing an unbelievable goal in a 4-1
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Preston North End losing Theo Mawene would be a blow but not unexpected
Mawene has yet to get into the first-team squad, but Lowe’s decision to give him a debut last season speaks volumes about his potential.
Despite this, Paul Heckingbottom has opted for more experienced players this season, leaving Mawene to play in the under-21 and under-18 divisions.
Preston have a talent on their hands, as evidenced by Brentford’s interest in signing him. His goal against Liverpool in December will almost likely raise a few heads elsewhere.
North End now runs a category three academy, yet they are surrounded by much larger entities such as Manchester United, Manchester City, and Liverpool, making it tough to develop first-team ready players as a teenager.
Mawene may thus see a better road into professional football at Brentford, where their B-team is undoubtedly a different manner of fostering and developing talent than your typical top-flight under-21 club.
