Newcastle United make early January move for striker amid Premier League competition
NEWCASTLE UNITED are hoping to bolster their youth ranks this month with the addition of Scottish teenage forward Evan Mooney.
The transfer window officially reopened earlier this morning, and the Magpies have wasted no time in signalling their interest in Mooney, who is having a breakthrough season with Scottish Premier League side St Mirren.
Newcastle officials have held preliminary discussions with the hierarchy at St Mirren, and are hoping to add 17-year-old Mooney to their academy ranks this month.
Mooney, who is contracted to St Mirren until 2028, has broken into the senior ranks this season, making his professional debut in October’s defeat at Hearts.
A Scotland youth international, he has made three further appearances in the Scottish top-flight, scoring his first senior goal in last month’s 3-2 win at St Johnstone.
Newcastle’s scouting team have been monitoring Mooney closely in the last couple of months, and have recommended signing the youngster this month before he become even more of a hotter prospect.
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The Magpies are not the only club to have made contact with St Mirren officials though, with the Scottish media reporting that Arsenal are also keen to sign Mooney this month.
Newcastle will attempt to persuade the youngster and his representatives that his development prospects are best suited by a move to the North-East rather than a switch to north London.
Newcastle have targeted emerging young talent to mixed effect in the last few years. The signing of Yankuba Minteh was a huge success, with the winger being sold to Brighton for £30m just over a year after the Magpies picked him up from Danish side Odense for around €7m.
However, the much-heralded move for Australia international Garang Kuol has been much less successful, with the 20-year-old still to make his senior Magpies debut more than two years after he was signed from Central Coast Mariners.
