Premier League scouts will watch Schalke U19 defender Bradley Cross when football resumes in Germany.
The 19-year-old centre-back is on loan with the Bundesliga club from South African side Bidvest Wits and has benefited from playing alongside the highly-rated Malick Thiaw who has been watched closely by Europe's elite clubs this season.
Thiaw, who is still 18, has already made his first team debut, as a substitute for Jonjoe Kenny on loan from Everton, and has a clause allowing him to leave for around £7million. Apart from looking composed as a 6ft 3ins defender he has also scored nine goals for Schalke's talented U19s in a stand-out season.
That has attracted the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal among others who are all looking to strengthen their defensive options in the summer window.
However, though Thiaw is the obvious main attraction, watching scouts have also noted the displays of his U19 centre-back partner Cross and have recommended he be watched further when the season resumes.
Cross is due to return to Bidvest at the end of the season and has one year left on contract. He is a South Africa U20 international but has a UK passport so can qualify as homegrown for clubs in England.