Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis has admitted that "the signs do not look good" for the club keeping hold of starlet Max Clayton, with the striker now having turned down several attempts to persuade him to sign a new contract.

The talented 18-year-old, a product of Crewe's esteemed youth academy, has been linked with Arsenal and Liverpool in the past, and there is little doubt that his potential availability will alert numerous suitors.

And Davis, who led Crewe to promotion to League One last season and to win the Johnstone Paints Trophy this year, has struck a pessimistic note on the club's chances of keeping Clayton, although he hopes the youngster will have a change of heart.

Speaking to local paper the Crewe Chronicle, Davis said: "The signs do not look good, but we'll have to see.

"We offered him a contract extension again at Christmas time and he rejected that.

"We will sit down with his agent and see what Max wants and what I think his future should be.

"In my opinion he is still learning and would benefit from having another year playing for us at this level.

"He was playing well towards the end of the season. He was just beginning to adjust to this league and what it entails.

"Players develop at different times and you have to be patient. In my opinion he is not ready.

"If Max plays well in our team and scores goals then any move would take care of itself."

Clayton has just 12 months left on his contract with Crewe, which could see the club attempt to cash in on him this summer if he continues to resist penning a new deal.

While Crewe would be entitled to compensation via a tribunal if he left due to his age, the likelihood is that they could receive a larger fee from an outright sale this summer.

Davis' men would have little problem selling Clayton. The youngster was one of the reasons 17 of the 20 clubs in the Premier League have had him watched.

Source: Inside Futbol