MASON MELIA will be at the London derby between Tottenham and Chelsea today.
The St Pat’s striker will be a guest of Spurs as they look to try to steal a march on the other clubs vying for his signature.
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The 17-year-old is spending a couple of days with Tottenham as part of a charm offensive on the part of the Premier League giants.
Melia cannot move to the UK until after he turns 18 next September but, in reality, a deal could be struck in principle in the summer for a transfer to proceed the following January.
It is thought that any transfer fee – which would include performance-related bonuses – could net the Inchicore club a seven-figure sum.
The teenager can move to a club in an EU country now but it is expected that he will favour hanging on for a cross-channel switch.
There is intense interest in the forward with Everton, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace also keen, as are Celtic.
But, although Brighton & Hove Albion have also been named among his suitors, SunSport understands they are not in the running.
The Wicklow native moved from Bray Wanderers to St Pat’s in the summer of 2022 and made his first-team debut in the Leinster Senior Cup the following January, scoring against Wexford.
His league debut followed in May, becoming the third youngest player to appear in the League of Ireland after Sam Curtis and Evan Ferguson, both of whom are now plying their trade in England.
In 41 Premier Division appearances – 26 of which were off the bench – he has scored eight goals and provided two assists and also caught the eye with his mature play in St Pat’s Europa Conference League run this year.
And, although he has two years remaining on his St Pat’s contract, it is accepted that it is only a matter of time before the league’s hottest property moves to play at a higher standard.
