England have eyes on Peterborough's Leonardo da Silva Lopes with the FA's technical director Dan Ashworth helping the teenager to switch allegiance from Portugal.

Lopes was born in Lisbon but was unable to apply for a British passport until his 18th birthday, which was at the end of November.

He has been at Peterborough since 14 and is hailed by the League One club's director of football Barry Fry as the best young talent he's seen since George Best.

Peterborough's young midfielder is being eyed up for a switch to England by the FA

Barry Fry, the club's director of football, hailed him as the best young player since George Best

'I've seen this kid since 14 and he's an unbelievable talent,' said Fry, who was in the Manchester United youth team with Best. 'He's got everything. He can head, he can tackle, the weight of his pass is brilliant, right foot and left foot and he's played nearly 30 games this season.

'He's the best player I've seen since Bestie came to United. Everybody in the country is after him. I've already had England on to say can he get a British passport because they want to pick him for England. Dan Ashworth advised us how to get it because he wants to pick him.

'We couldn't apply until he was 18 which was November 30 but we've put it in for him.'

Lopes, a central midfielder, will be eligible for England at Under 17 level if his application is successful as it is expected to be. He moved to England aged 12 and was spotted playing local football for Powerleague Colts in Peterborough.

Lopes (right) is a regular in Grant McCann's first team and is being chased by Tottenham

He has been a regular in Grant McCann's team this season and Premier League clubs have been scouting him, including Tottenham, who hit the jackpot when they paid £5million for Dele Alli from MK Dons in League One.

Everton completed the signing of Ademola Lookman from Charlton on Thursday for a League One record fee of £11m.

Bristol City of the Championship have already made a move for Lopes, who made his debut aged 16 against Crawley in April 2015.

'We're a selling club,' said Fry. 'If somebody offers us the right money he'll go but the longer we keep him the better.'