Man Utd & Man City set to battle for 17-year-old Irish wonderkid
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 13 Nov 2023 19:08 GMT
- 4 min read
Manchester United and Manchester City are reportedly both interested in signing Irish teenager Sam Curtis, while several other English clubs are also keen on acquiring the youngster.
Curtis, 17, is currently starring for Irish club St Patrick’s Athletic and he helped them to a third-place finish in the 2023 League of Ireland Premier Division season.
The right-back, who has two caps for Ireland U21s, is “set to move this January” according to TEAMTalk, with several English clubs keeping tabs on his progress at St Pat’s.
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TEAMTalk have reported that Man Utd and Man City are set to battle for Curtis’ signature, but they are not alone in their interest.
Everton, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Sheffield United, Hull City and Middlesbrough are also keen on the teenager, as per the report, as the race to land him begins to heat up ahead of 2024.
Last year, Curtis was named the Republic of Ireland’s U18 Player of the Year after his breakout at St Pat’s, and he has already tallied 60 senior appearances despite his tender age.
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In those 60 appearances, Curtis has scored three goals and provided six assists, and he has cemented himself as St Pat’s first-choice right-back this year.
Tonight’s opening goal from Sam Curtis @VMSportIE pic.twitter.com/ONVH6MzoZo
— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) May 19, 2023
Man City and Man Utd also want Mason Melia
Curtis is not the only Irish youngster currently being chased by Pep Guardiola’s Man City and Erik ten Hag’s Man Utd either.
Both clubs are set to rival Chelsea for Mason Melia, a 16-year-old Irish forward who has been compared to Brighton & Hove Albion star Evan Ferguson.
Man Utd missed out on Ferguson before he joined the Seagulls and are keen to avoid a similar situation happening with Melia. As a result, the Red Devils are among several clubs keen on landing the young Irishman before he becomes a household name, as per TEAMTalk.
A hat-trick for Saints man Mason Melia for Ireland's MU17 team against Armenia in a 4-0 win 👏
Cork City's Jaden Umeh got Ireland's other goal 🇮🇪#LOI | #LOIAcademy pic.twitter.com/ReaDImN02P— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) October 11, 2023
The St Patrick’s Athletic forward made his senior debut for the club at just 15 and became the League of Ireland’s youngest ever goal-scorer when he found the back of the net against UCD earlier in 2023.
Melia has already spent time on trial at Man City and Chelsea, as per TEAMTalk, while Man Utd also want to take him on trial as they eye a move for the Irishman.
