London giants Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly the front-runners to sign 17-year-old Irish whikid Mason Melia, a target for Chelsea and Manchester United.
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Mason Melia is the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur. The St. Patrick’s Athletic wonderkid is also a target for Chelsea and Manchester United. However, the North London giants lead the race to sign the 17-year-old whizkid, who cannot move to England before turning 18.
The Mason Melia story
Mason Melia has established himself as one of the best young attacking prospects in Europe since breaking into the first-team squad at St. Patrick’s Athletic. A native of Kilcoole, he has spent his formative years thus far in his homeland, although he has risen in prominence since joining St. Patrick’s Athletic in July 2022.
The teenage sensation made his first-team bow for St. Patrick’s Athletic as a 15-year-old and has gone from strength to strength in the last couple of years. The 17-year-old has already turned out over 50 times thus far for the Irish club’s first team, chipping in with ten goals and three assists. Meanwhile, Melia’s progress has not gone unnoticed, alerting Premier League bigwigs like Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.
High in demand
The Irish wonderkid has been on Chelsea and Manchester United’s radar for a long time. Chelsea’s interest in Melia is hardly surprising, considering the Blues have heavily invested in high-profile players under the current owners. A few prodigies are yet to arrive in London, with the Blues viewing Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez as long-term assets.
However, Mason Melia is also a viable target for Chelsea. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s interest in the youngster is understandable. The Red Devils have a storied history of giving fair opportunities to highly-rated prospects. So, Melia could have viewed Manchester United as an attractive destination. However, Chelsea and Manchester United are behind Tottenham in the chase.
The last few years have seen an influx of promising prospects at Tottenham. Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray have arrived at the North London club, while Luka Vuskovic will join them in the 2025 summer transfer window. Melia might accompany Vuskovic at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next year.
Tottenham might be in the pole position to sign the 17-year-old Irish whizkid, but it will be interesting to see if Chelsea or Manchester United can usurp the North London outfit. Meanwhile, the St. Patrick’s Athletic wonderkid cannot move to England before turning 18. So, his suitors must wait until September 2025 to herald his arrival.
