Shrewsbury Town close to agreeing loan deal for youngster

Shrewsbury Town are working on a loan move for young talent Jeval Thompson-McKenzie.

Gavin Cowan told the Shropshire Star towards the end of pre-season that Thompson-McKenzie had been ‘earmarked’ for a temporary move to gain further senior experience after featuring regularly during preparations for the new campaign.

Town have since held discussions with several clubs and the 18-year-old is now close to securing a loan move.

“We’re in the process of it now,” Cowan said. “The reason no one’s heard about anything is because there’s been discussions with numerous clubs.

“So yeah, we’re hoping to announce something really soon.”

It would be Thompson-McKenzie’s second loan spell after he spent the closing weeks of last season at Stourbridge in the Southern Central Premier.

The teenager signed a third-year scholarship with Salop this summer and was a regular throughout the club’s pre-season campaign.

However, he has only been involved with the first team once since the new season began, when he was an unused substitute for Shrewsbury’s EFL Cup defeat at Fleetwood Town.

The academy product caught Cowan’s eye with a series of impressive performances in the forward areas during pre-season, earning praise from the Town boss.

Thompson-McKenzie was also a key member of Shrewsbury’s Under-18 side last season as they completed a historic league double, winning both the EFL Youth Alliance North West and North divisions.