Tottenham Hotspur have upped the ante in the race to earn the favour of the League Of Ireland and St. Patricks Athletic's hottest quantity seventeen-year-old Mason Melia.
Since Melia's move from Bray Wanderers to St Pat's in the summer of 2022 he has been widely regarded as one of the league's hottest prospects, with the Wicklow native truly coming of age under Stephen Kenny this season, proving his credentials in St. Pats impressive Europa Conference League run and emphatic second half of this season's League of Ireland.
Melia made forty-one appearances for the Saints this season, coming off the bench twenty-six times and netting eight goals for the Inchicore outfit.
What a finish from Mason Melia 👏 pic.twitter.com/r58jqdPqAy
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) September 1, 2024
When he made his league debut in the summer of 2023, a year after joining St. Pats, Melia became the third youngest player to appear in the LOI, beaten only by Sam Curtis and Evan Ferguson both of whom are currently playing in England.
While the 17-year-old has two years left on his contract with Stephen Kenny's St. Patrick Athletic, it is believed an early move across the Irish Sea is inevitable for the Irish youngster who has garnered the attention of some of England's biggest football clubs.
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Premier League giants intensify seven-figure hunt for Mason Melia
While a number of Premier Clubs are reportedly interested in acquiring the services of Melia, Tottenham Hotspur have upped the ante to sign him, with Mason Melia attending today's London derby with Chelsea as a guest of the club.
According to Neil O'Riordan of the Irish Sun, Melia's attendance at Sunday's clash is the highlight of Melia's multi-day visit to Tottenham intended to try earn the 17-year-old's favour ahead of a race for his talents.
Despite the interest from Tottenham, and a host of other clubs including Newcastle, Everton and Crystal Palace, Melia won't be eligible for a move to the UK until he turns 18 next September, however, a deal to sign him could be struck in principle in the summer ahead of a potential move in January.
1 August 2024; Mason Melia of St Patrick's Athletic acknowledges supporters after his side's draw in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round second leg match between FC Vaduz and St Patrick's Athletic at Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. Photo by Vedran Galijas/Sportsfile
Any potential deal that would lure Melia away from Inchicore, would be expected to net St. Patricks Athletic a figure in excess of one million euros.
Should Tottenham Hotspur be successful in signing Mason Melia next summer, he'll follow in the footsteps of goalkeeper Josh Keeley who made the move from Inchicore to London in 2022.
The 21-year-old Meath man is currently on loan with English side Leyton Orient, having also enjoyed a loan spell in Barnet in the first half of this year.
While Melia's departure would be a crushing blow for Richmond Park regulars, the seven-figure sum St. Patrick's Athletic are expected to receive will certainly soften the blow for Stephen Kenny.
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