Championship club 'set to sign' Swindon youngster for £1.5 million fee

Swindon Town’s promising defender Harley Hunt is reportedly on the verge of a move to Middlesbrough in a seven-figure deal.

According to a report from Simon Jones of The Daily Mail, ‘Boro have beaten off competition from Premier League sides Aston Villa and Southampton to secure the 16-year-old in a deal that could rise to £1.5 million.

Hart impressed immensely during Town’s run to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals before making his professional debut against Walsall at the back end of last season, before going on to start the final two games against Grimsby Town and Morecambe.

Following the appointment of Mark Kennedy, Hunt has continued to train with the first team as pre-season has begun along with fellow youngsters Anton Robinson and Antony McCormick.

Making such steps at a young age has attracted the attention of many top clubs and it looks as though former Swindon man Michael Carrick will be the one to snap him up with his assistant manager and former Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate having played a big role in persuading Hunt to choose Middlesbrough.

The Daily Mail reported two weeks ago the interest from Southampton and Villa, with Swindon having supposedly placed a price tag of £500,000 on him.

Jones has said that Town will be securing that half-a-million fee with an additional million in potential add-ons as he undergoes his medical at The Riverside.

Hunt displayed his huge potential during his first three senior appearances, playing all three roles across the back three, something Town have focused on with his development to develop his play with both feet and then interim head coach Gavin Gunning was particularly effusive about his performances.

Saying after the Grimsby match: “They [Joel McGregor and Hunt] were brilliant, the composure Harley has had was fantastic.

"They are learning all of the time, they are doing brilliant stuff, they are making mistakes which they are learning from and that is just fantastic for them.

"Harley has got unbelievable talent and an unbelievable future in the game."

Hunt is not the only Swindon youngster to be attracting interest from the top clubs as Jones also reported that Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers have been monitoring new Iraq Under-19 international Botan Ameen.

The 17-year-old striker was another star of the FA Youth Cup run, scoring both goals in the memorable fourth-round win against United, who are now considering making a move for him.