Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are reportedly on alert as Ollie O’Neill faces an uncertain future at Fulham.
According to a report from The Athletic, Fulham could be on the verge of losing yet another youth prospect in the form of Ollie O’Neill. The young midfielder has his current contract expiring at the end of the season, which has put Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United on alert.
Fulham, though, remain determined to keep hold of O’Neill beyond the summer. Although they are not yet offering the youngster a role in the first team, it appears Marco Silva wants to send him out on loan in the summer in an attempt to help him gain valuable experience at the highest level.
A central midfielder by trade, O’Neill is regarded as one of the most talented players to come out of the Fulham academy in recent years. Although yet to make his professional breakthrough, the youngster is rated highly due to his technical quality in the middle of the park, coupled with his work ethic.
The 19-year-old has been performing consistently in the Youth Development League, notably scoring six goals while mustering three assists. He is also an Ireland youth international, and it is only a matter of time before he gets to make his debut for the Fulham squad.
But it appears other clubs are keen on luring him away from Craven Cottage, with Tottenham, for one, expressing the desire to sign the 19-year-old in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Having been linked with a move for Ronnie Edwards, among many others, Spurs are scouring the English market for young, homegrown talents in an attempt to shore up their youth setup. O’Neill, to that end, could be a fantastic addition at Tottenham given his immense potential. He could prove to be an interesting alternative for first-choice midfielders in Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur.
West Ham, meanwhile, are in the market for midfield reinforcements in light of a lack of depth. While Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek are top class options to have, the former is facing an uncertain future at the club and the Hammers truly lack a reliable alternative.
Although O’Neill is far from a finished product, the 19-year-old has the talent and the potential to become a star at West Ham, especially under the leadership of David Moyes, who has rejuvenated the careers of countless individuals during his second stint at London Stadium so far.
