Crystal Palace face competition from five Premier League clubs for 15-year-old ‘sensation’
Crystal Palace are facing competition from Everton, Chelsea, Brighton,West Ham and Sheffield United in a race to sign 15-year-old Glentoran forward George Feeney, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
The newspaper shared via its website on 11 September that, having made his senior debut last week, where he impressed fans with a lively substitute appearance, there is plenty of top-level interest in the signature of Feeney who they describe as a “sensation”.
Feeney, the son of former Leeds United and Cardiff City player Warren Feeney, is aiming to be the fourth generation of his family to represent Northern Ireland at international level.
An exciting prospect
The level of interest in signing Feeney is a testament to his quality at just 15 years of age. The report claims Premier League sides have been impressed by his eye for goal and all-action style, as well as having the potential to develop into a top player.
He has revealed already that he is open to a move to England, having claimed the academy training at Glentoran is preparing him for “a move across the water” and, after making his senior debut already, that move does not seem too far away.
There are not many stats to look at given the level of his experience so far, but with Premier League scouts clearly impressed by what they have seen, it could be some coup by Everton if they are able to beat the other interested parties to his signature.
Crystal Palace, one of the clubs interested in Feeney’s signature, have seen relative success with previous recruitment from the Northern Irish Football League, with youngster Kofi Balmer impressing at academy level, earning a loan move to League Two with Port Vale, where his appearances so far have been limited by injury.
‘THAT’S HIS PROBLEM’: EBERECHI EZE REACTS TO EDDIE NKETIAH’S ACTIONS IN ENGLAND TRAINING
Eberechi Eze was outdone by Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah in an England training drill that relied on your speed of thought rather than your ability with your feet.
The drill requires two players to stand facing one another, with a ball on top of a cone in the middle, whilst the players are crouching.
The England players are then shouted instructions by a coach to which they should follow, but they don’t know what it will be, i.e ‘shoulders’, to which you should then touch your shoulders or ‘head’ and the same applies.
At any moment, you are told to grab the ball, and the first one to get hold of it wins.
Well, Eddie Nketiah got the better of former Arsenal academy product Eberechi Eze, who hilariously was unhappy with the striker because he was ‘scratching’ him, as England posted on YouTube.
You can read and watch below the exchange between Eze and Nketiah, as Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford watched on (2.56secs).
Eze and Nketiah in England training
“I said don’t scratch me,” smiled Eze. “That’s his problem. He’s scratching. Why? He (England coach) isn’t saying scratch,” laughed the Crystal Palace superstar.
Eze and Nketiah against Scotland
The duo were unused subs for England’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine last time out and they will be hoping to earn some much-needed minutes against Scotland.
It’s a friendly on paper, but you just know that the game will be played in a ferocious manner between the two at Hampden.
Either way, it still allows Gareth Southgate to make as many changes as he wishes during the game and that’s where Nketiah will be hoping to make his England bow, whilst Eze will be aiming to take to the field once more.
