Ricky Jade-Jones is flattered by speculation linking him with Arsenal and Liverpool with the Peterborough United starlet telling Sky Sports that he shares a similar skill-set with the irrepressible Jamie Vardy.
A teenager with searing pace might be just 11 league games into his professional career but a move to one of the biggest clubs in England is already emerging as a genuine possibility.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are interested in a forward who idolises Old Trafford hero Marcus Rashford, according to Sky.
The Sun (21 November, page 71) recently named Tottenham Hotspur as another potential destination, with Peterborough valuing their homegrown prospect at £10 million.
You might forgive a budding 17-year-old for having his head turned by such speculation. But it’s a credit to Jade-Jones’s maturity and attitude that he sees these rumours as a motivation rather than a distraction.
“As a 17-year old hearing that is really nice,” he says.
“I’m in a good position right now and I’m enjoying football so it doesn’t distract me. It just gives me more motivation to show everyone what I can do.”
Posh boss Darren Ferguson knew from day one that there is something a little different about Jade-Jones, who he describes as ‘the quickest player I have ever managed’.
With that remarkable turn of pace in his locker (Jade-Jones can sprint 100 metres in less than 11 seconds), there are hardly better players for a lower-league starlet to take inspiration from than Leicester’s legendary number nine.
Vardy too is not short of speed – though the former England international has learned to hone his explosive acceleration in order to make those perfectly-timed runs behind opposition backlines. If Jade-Jones can do similar, he could be all-but unstoppable.
“I look at teams like Leicester and players like Jamie Vardy. I think I’m suited to [being] a Vardy-type of player,” he adds.
“I’ve had a few defenders say they don’t like playing against me and that’s always nice to hear at a young age.
“Ever since U12s I had a coach who used to train me to get faster because my running technique wasn’t the best. Over the years I’ve gradually got faster.”
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