League Two outfit AFC Wimbledon have received bids from an unnamed club for Ayoub Assal as a number of sides higher up the pyramid plot to prise the 20-year-old away from Plough Lane before next week's transfer deadline.
Assal was attracting Premier League interest earlier in the summer with Brentford and Fulham amongst his suitors. But the top-flight duo could now miss out as a host of EFL clubs are stepping up their attempts to pinch the Dons academy graduate.
While it's unclear who has recently tabled bids for the youngster, Watford and Queens Park Rangers are two clubs who have been keeping a keen eye on Assal's situation in recent weeks. League One side Peterborough United have also been courting the attacking midfielder - who was called up to train with England's U20 squad last year - although they have just wrapped up a deal for Barnet hotshot Ephron Mason-Clark.
And Mirror Football also understands that Assal has admirers overseas, with at least one Ligue 1 club believed to be giving serious consideration to a deal that would see the talented youngster head to France.
Despite being relegated last season, Wimbledon are in a strong position and are under no pressure to sell Assal this summer. The Dons have already been plundered by other clubs in the EFL since their demotion, with Huddersfield Town snapping up Jack Rudoni for a club-record fee earlier this summer. Luke McCormick was also lured away by Bristol Rovers this week.
Assal is viewed as an integral part of Johnnie Jackson's squad as the Dons bid to bounce back to League One at the first time of asking.
But there is a chance that the club's stance on selling him could soften if a substantial bid is tabled in the coming days.
Assal played a crucial role in firing Wimbledon to survival at the tail-end of the 2020/21 campaign after he was integrated into the senior ranks by former Dons boss Mark Robinson. However, he was unable to prevent the south Londoners from slipping into the fourth tier last term, despite notching eight league goals.
The attacking midfielder still has two years left to run on his current deal in SW19 after he penned a three-year contract in the wake of his first-team breakthrough last summer.
Assal has featured in all six of AFC Wimbledon's League Two games so far this term, with Jackson's side currently sitting in 12th spot after losing 1-0 to Barrow on Sunday.
