The Irish Independent are reporting that Premier League side Crystal Palace are expected to make an offer for 18-year-old Cork City attacker Franco Umeh.
Scouts from Crystal Palace were in Abbotstown today to view the youngster in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Dundalk.
Umeh has been capped for the Ireland U19s, alongside his former Cork City teammate, Mark O'Mahony who signed for Brighton and Hove Albion yesterday.
Cork City's Franco Umeh Has Been Impressing For The League Of Ireland Side
27 January 2023; Franco Umeh of Cork City during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Cork City and Dundalk at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 🇮🇪
You love to see it 🤌
Late goals from Justin Ferizaj and Franco Umeh seal a place for Ireland MU19s in next year’s Elite Phase qualifiers ☘️
🏴0-2🇮🇪#IRLU19 | #WeAreOne | #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/5R5ZOMeRfr— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) September 24, 2022
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The news of both Umeh and O'Mahony shows the willingness of Cork City manager Colin Healy to promote and nurture youth, as his comments from the end of their First Division winning season last year suggest.
"We gave players opportunities there," said Healy last October after the penultimate game of the season against Athlone Town. "We gave Franco (Umeh) an opportunity on the right-hand side. He is in training with us. He’s been fantastic."
"Mark O’Mahoney as well. Also others lads that haven’t been playing as much recently. It's great seeing young lads coming on."
O'Mahony will join fellow young Irishmen Andrew Moran, Jamie Mullins, and of course Evan Ferguson, at Brighton.
"I got to know the club and the coaches well during my trial," said O'Mahony. "And I knew early on that I wanted to sign here. Brighton’s academy is one of the best in the country, especially with the way young players are given an opportunity and a pathway.
“I spoke to a few of the Irish boys in the group about what the club is like and they all spoke really highly of what’s in place here, so it was an easy decision.”
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