- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC sources have confirmed that Newcastle United have sealed the signing of Irish starlet Rory Finneran.
The Tyneside club have beaten Premier League rivals in the race to sign the highly-rated 16-year-old.
It is understood that Newcastle United have been in talks with Finneran and his camp for months as they looked to get a deal over the line for the promising Blackburn Rovers starlet.
HITC sources have confirmed that Premier League duo Liverpool and Manchester United also held talks with Finneran.
However, the young Irishman opted for a move to Tyneside to join the long-term project at St James’ Park.
He is set to become the fifth signing of the summer for Newcastle after Lewis Hall, Odysseas Vlachodimos, Lloyd Kelly and John Ruddy.
HITC revealed that Newcastle are also closing in on a £35million deal for AC Milan star Malick Thiaw.
Rory Finneran is a record-breaker at Blackburn
Newcastle can breathe a sigh of relief after beating the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool to Finneran’s signature.
The young midfielder was held in extremely high regard at Blackburn and was made their youngest-ever first-team debutant earlier this year.
At the age of 15 years, 10 months and eight days, Finneran was brought on as a substitute in Blackburn’s third-round FA Cup clash against Cambridge United in January.
He was given a one-minute cameo by former manager Jon Dahl Tomasson to reward his progress in the club’s youth system.
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Finneran climbed through the youth ranks at Ewood Park and he has also impressed on the international stage after becoming the captain of Republic of Ireland’s Under-16s squad.
He is set to join a host of exciting young prospects at Newcastle as the Tyneside club invests in their long-term project under their Saudi Arabian owners.
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