Celtic is now leading the race to sign St Patrick’s Mason Melia, reports Football Insider.
The 16-year-old is set to be the subject of a formal offer by the Scottish Champions despite interest from Manchester City, Everton and Brighton.
The wonderkid has drawn the attention of leading clubs after making his senior debut for St Partick’s at the age of 15. He put pen to paper on a professional deal that sees him remain at the club until 2026.
With 43 senior appearances, the youngster has found the net seven times and has three assists to his name. He has 26 caps for Ireland across several youth levels, with 11 goals in total. He also represented his country at the under-17s Euros last year, scoring two and creating two as he helped his side reach the quarter-finals of the tournament.
If Celtic were to make a move for the centre-forward, he would be unable to play in the Hoops until his 18th birthday. Due to Brexit rules, he wouldn’t be able to move to the UK until this time.
Therefore, it’s likely that any deal would involve a clause allowing him to stay at St Patrick’s until he turns 18.
Although Brighton are also in a strong position to secure his signature, he may be convinced that he has a clear pathway to the first team at Celtic thanks to players like Liam Scales and Mikey Johnston featuring for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Melia would be a statement of intent from the Celts and would be a brilliant player to have on the books. He looks really talented for someone so young so as long as he was given chances to perform instead of being hidden away in the B-team, then he could certainly put in a shift in Scotland.
Amidst Celtic’s interest in the youngster, Chelsea are reportedly upping their interest in Celtic’s star midfielder Matt O’Riley.
Jessica Elliott
We already know Rodgers is taking a big interest within our academy, and looking to try and produce players for within?
An area within our club that has remained idle for way to long also?
Even so, it still wasn’t enough for Vata and Kelly in there development, and still a mistake made by themselves imo?
Regardless Turley now looking like a replacement for Kelly, and maybe this lad could be a replacement for Vata in the making?
This 8 homegrown quota requirement can’t continue to be ignored within our squad, especially with calmac and forrest not getting any younger either?
We still have to produce players that can show there worth to ourselves within our squad, and not having the likes of a Mccarthy or Bain just making up numbers with the quality issues seriously lacking imo?
Our squad in future, shouldn’t consist of 8 homegrown quota players automatically getting positions within our squad, just to meet a requirement imo?
Believe Rodgers is looking to rectify a problem that has been in existence for way too long within our club imo?
Was never going to be sorted out overnight, when left idle as long as it has been imo?
But certainly signs of things starting to go in the right direction at long last?
Even for this coming campaign, we could be looking at lawal, Anderson and Murray trying to make an impact and showing they are worthy of earning a place within our homegrown quota requirements?
Even if they were successful in Rodgers plans, the next step is trying to make it into our 20man SPFL match day squad?
Should the opportunities arise, then it’s down to them to take such an opportunity, in the manner that scales was able to do so?
This window won’t be solely about the here and now for the coming season, especially as I still believe Rodgers is looking beyond that also imo?
We still need to get ourselves in a better position as a club, where transfer activities over the summer can hopefully be reduced?
That would require getting a strong core group in place, which will involve younger players also, especially when the requirement will be about stepping up to the challenge when the time is right to do so also?
Won’t be for every young player, but with a conveyor belt starting to be put in motion again, then the chances of increasing success will hopefully follow suit also imo?
What an insult to the 100s young footballers Celtic have trained to play for us since we move to Lennoxtown. Only 6 of those players have made our first team regular. What a blow to players like Roco Vata and Daniel Kelly if we go for this youth development project. Celtic need to show a statement of intent with the sfa to sort out the lack of reverse team football in Scotland. Not buying youth developments from other clubs!
It’s got sfa to do with the SFA or Lowland League but everything to do with Liewell’s vanity. The Garden Pathway – just ask Vata and Kelly when he leaves what they were offered to stay. Karamoko Dembele left on a free transfer!