Newcastle United are close to finalising the signing of Port Vale sensation Michael Mills after reaching a full transfer agreement in recent days.
According to Football Insider, a deal has been struck between the two clubs over a move after Newcastle’s bid was accepted for 14-year-old sensation Mills. It’s suggested the offer could rise to £200,000.
The youngster has earned a reputation as a hugely promising prospect and impressed those at Newcastle, which has led the Premier League side to pursue a permanent transfer for the teenager.
He has previously shone at Port Vale’s under-15s, bringing him to the attention of the Magpies. There was other interest in Mills thanks to his bright performances at the underage level, but the Magpies have moved quickly to get the deal done, with the youngster expected to join the club in the coming weeks.
The 14-year-old will arrive on a scholarship contract, with the potential fee to Port Vale set to rise to £200,000, which is a big commitment for a player who is still some way from senior football. However, it is unclear how much of that will be given to the League One side up front.
This continues the club’s approach to bringing in the best underage talent they can find as part of their new recruitment strategy, as well as increasing efforts to upgrade youth development facilities. The Magpies also recently appointed former Leicester City recruitment operations manager Claire Burrows as part of their academy strategy.
Eddie Howe is obviously keen to bolster his first-team squad ahead of their upcoming Champions League campaign, but the club is also keen to bring in the best young talent to develop for the future and to create sustainable foundations in the long run.
The Magpies have attracted some exciting young players. Last summer, Alex Murphy joined from League of Ireland outfit Galway United, while Scotland youth international Charlie McArthur moved down from Kilmarnock.
Newcastle are poised to complete the £6 million capture of Gambian whizkid Yankuba Minteh from Norwegian club Odense Boldklub in the coming weeks. The 18-year-old is anticipated to follow Garang Kuol’s development path. The Australian joined Hearts on loan from A-League side Central Coast Mariners in January but hasn’t received many minutes for the Scottish outfit.
As for Mills, it’s obviously way too early to tell whether he will make it to the senior level or not, given that he is still in his formative years. However, Mills already has a brilliant reputation, so this is a positive signing for Newcastle.
