Man City to raid Irish club for THREE wonderkids

Tom Weber

Updated: 14 Nov 2023 14:20 GMT
3 min read

St. Patrick's Athletic are quickly becoming one of Ireland's best producers of talent and three of their youngsters could be snapped up by Manchester City.

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The League of Ireland club have what many believe to be Irish football's next big star on their books in the shape of striker Mason Melia, already being dubbed the next Evan Ferguson - even though the Brighton star himself is still only a teenager!

Yet it is not only Melia who has attracted the attention of Europe's elite. His teammates Sam Curtis and Adam Murphy, too, are reportedly being looked at by none other than Pep Guardiola's Man City. Melia, too, has a connection with the Manchester club, having reportedly gone on trial with the treble winners earlier in the year.

On Monday, reports revealed that Curtis, a 17-year-old right-back who already boasts caps for Ireland's U21s, has Man Utd and City fighting over his signature. The youngster has been likened to Chelsea captain Reece James, though he has downplayed these comparisons.

This evening’s opening goal from Adam Murphy pic.twitter.com/o51kR4uQ4r
— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) July 23, 2023

Murphy enters the fray

Fresh reports now suggest that Adam Murphy is also being looked at by Man City. That's at least according to TEAMtalk, which claims that City, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Bristol City and Southampton have all been keeping an eye on his development.

A central midfielder by trade, Murphy's contract expires at the end of the month and the 18-year-old could be snapped up for a measly development fee of £200,000 in January.

Curtis started for St. Pat's in the FAI Cup final at the weekend, while Murphy and Melia came off the bench in their 3-1 victory over Evan Ferguson's ex-club Bohemians.

The Dublin side finished the League of Ireland season in third, thus making the second round of UEFA Conference League qualifying, but the three youngsters will likely be plying their trade in England next year.