Three Ireland youngsters on the radar of Manchester City and United

The future looks bright.

Manchester City, Man United and other Premier League big wigs have got three Ireland youngsters on their radar, as they prepare to battle for their signatures. In recent years Irish players in England's top division has been at a premium, leaving us all a bit nostalgic of the noughties when names like Roy Keane, Robbie Keane, Shay Given and Damien Duff were lighting up the PL. However, in the last 12 months or so, we have seen a bit of a resurgence in Ireland internationals at the top table, with players like Chiedozie Ogbene performing well for Luton, or Nathan Collins shinning for Brentford. Of course the emergence of Evan Ferguson as a genuine superstar at the spearhead of Brighton's attack is a massive boost, and suddenly, despite Irish football going through a bleak period, the future looks a lot brighter. Now the rumour mill has began circling round three young prospects from our small island that have caught the eye of some of the biggest clubs in the world.

Sam Curtis

According to reports Sam Curtis is currently being chased by Man City, Man United, and Tottenham Hotspur, as the three English clubs are keen to get the young defender's signature. At just 17, the St Patrick's Athletic star played a key role in helping his side finish third in the League of Ireland Premier Division, and it looks very likely that he will be leaving this January, it's just a question of where?

Mason Melia

Mason Melia is regarded as one of the brightest young talents to come from Ireland in recent years, and according to the Mail Online, Manchester City are keen to sign the teenager and currently have him over there on trial. The 15-year-old made his debut for St Pat's last May, and a month later he became the youngest goalscorer in the League of Ireland Premier Division at 15 years and 281 days old. Accolades like that don't go unnoticed, which is why Liverpool and Bundesliga sides have been following his progress.

Romeo Akachukwu

Man City, Arsenal and Southampton are all in the hunt for Romeo Akachukwu, the 17-year-old striker who helped Waterford gain promotion to the top table this year. The young goal-getter even bagged a hat-trick in the Play-off semi-final against Athlone, and is now in high demand by England's biggest clubs. According to The Irish Independent Southampton made a bid which would be a new record for a player from a League of Ireland club, worth in excess of the €500,000 Sunderland paid Cork City for Roy O’Donovan in 2007 and also up on the €450,000 Shamrock Rovers got from Manchester City for Gavin Bazunu, though the Hoops later received more based on bonuses and international caps. Of course this is still all ifs, buts and maybes, but it's good to see that there is still promising talent brewing in Ireland, and hopefully that will make its way onto the Irish senior team sooner rather than later. Related links:

• An exciting Ireland XI for 2024 that gives us a decent chance of World Cup qualification
• Mick McCarthy says he would have capped Declan Rice and Jack Grealish for Ireland
• Stephen Kenny makes honest admission on what could "cost him" his job