It appears Tottenham Hotspur isn’t yet done in the transfer market, at least with regards to refilling the academy. On the heels of signing a triumverate of 18-year-olds for the U21s, Tom Barclay of the S-n is reporting that Spurs are close to agreeing a £1.6m deal to purchase 17-year-old Irish striker Mason Melia from St. Patrick’s Athletic.
This is not the first time Tottenham have signed a highly rated youngster before they turn 18. Spurs notably have done that with Luka Vuskovic, who is currently on loan with Westerlo in Belgium, and it was the same (I believe) with Lucas Bergvall.
Nor is it the first time that Spurs have headed to the Emerald Isle in search of youth talent. Troy Parrott notably was an Irish export, and while he hasn’t (yet) lived up to his sobriquet as “the next Robbie Keane” Troy did okay and is now banging them in at AZ Alkmaar.
Melia has been a part of Ireland’s international youth setup since the U15 level and notably was a member of the Ireland U17 squad that made the quarterfinals of the U17 EUROs. In two seasons at St. Patrick’s he’s made 41 appearances at senior level, netting 8 goals.
This is exactly the kind of singing I hope Spurs keep making — young, prolific international talent that might — might — make the leap into a solid top level professional footballer. It’s absolutely worth spending £1.6m every now and then on guys like this.