One of Italy’s top teams in hot pursuit of Mason Melia

"I’ve never had it before - someone so young doing so well in such a pivotal position."

Football Insider have said that Bologna have submitted a €2m bid for the 17-year-old Wicklow native, off the back of his exploits for St Patrick's Athletic and Ireland Under-17s and Under-19s.

Bologna currently sit in eighth place in Serie A and finished fifth last season, qualifying for the Champions League.

This follows the news that Spurs are in hot pursuit of the young star. Reports suggest that he visited their training grounds recently and was a guest at Sunday's 4-3 defeat to Chelsea.

Melia has shone for Ireland underage sides over the last year, and was instrumental in St Pat's run in Europe and their late-season form which saw them come from nowhere to qualify for Europe next year.

Pat's boss Stephen Kenny said recently: "I’ve never had it before - someone so young doing so well in such a pivotal position.

"Mason is defying the odds. He has good values and a very high work ethic, embracing hard work. He covers the ground at a rapid rate, and while physically developing earlier in the season played in a number of positions, including the right.

"His recent goal against Drogheda was sort of needed after he’d had a bit of a spell without scoring.

"He was delighted with that and then scored in the next game against Dundalk.

"There was another goal for Ireland Under-19s and then another against Waterford."