West Ham are leading the race to sign Coleraine teenager Patrick Kelly, according to BBC Sport.
The outlet claims that the 17-year-old is wanted by a number of Premier League clubs after making his first-team breakthrough in Northern Ireland.
The Irons are said to have sent scouts to watch Kelly but there is interest from other clubs in England, in both the top-flight and the Championship.
Kelly is already a Northern Ireland U19 international and he plays primarily as a central midfielder, although he is also capable of playing on the left wing and up front.
Thus far, he has made 29 senior appearances for Coleraine and has scored a goal for the first-team, while also laying on four assists.
It isn’t clear how much Kelly would cost but it appears likely that it would be a negligible fee, as Coleraine are a semi-professional outfit in a financially deprived league.
It remains to be seen if the Hammers can beat their rivals to the punch.
What’s the point ? Moyes doesn’t play young Players.
Yes, that’s the main issue I have with Moyes: he likes a small squad of “tried and trusted”, generally older players, and has never mastered the art of bringing youth through to the first team (Rooney apart). A season or so ago West Ham were seen as a club where young players who signed for us could advance and prosper, now however there appears to be a glass ceiling. Why would a young player want to come to West Ham now, when there is almost zero chance of him getting a run in the first team?
Must agree with Selsdon, why would they come here? For decades we have been known as the Academy, where young players get a chance. Now it seems that Mr Moyes’ eyes are shut tight. I wouldn’t mind so much if the signings were blinding, but Kral, Vlasic? Even the good ones like Soucek and Areola he has issues with. I praise his success, but worry about his vision.