Birmingham, Everton, Newcastle, Sheffield United and Sunderland are reportedly keen on Linfield’s Paul Smyth.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, Linfield winger Paul Smyth is attracting major interest from Birmingham City, Everton, Newcastle United, Sheffield United and Sunderland.
Linfield were in the headlines this summer having been drawn against Celtic in the Champions League qualifiers, but the Northern Irish champions lost 6-0 on aggregate.
James Forrest of Celtic is challenged by Paul Smyth of Linfield
Despite the heavy aggregate defeat, one Linfield player appears to have caught the eye of big clubs in England, with winger Paul Smyth attracting major interest.
The Belfast Telegraph report that Everton and Newcastle are both keen on Smyth, with Championship clubs Birmingham City, Sheffield United and Sunderland also understood to be interested.
The report adds that League Two side Crawley Town have failed with a £60,000 bid for Smyth, with those five sides almost surely plotting bids worth exponentially more than that.
Smyth, 19, has been prolific for Linfield since breaking into the first team, notching eight goals in 15 games before taking on Celtic, and he looks set to emerge as one of the top talents in Northern Irish football.
Jonny Hayes (R) of Celtic and Paul Smyth (L) of Linfield
Premier League sides Everton and Newcastle may now sense a bargain in Smyth, but Championship clubs could offer him a clearer path to first-team football, meaning the race for his signature should be intense.
However, Smyth is quoted as saying that he is focused and Linfield rather than a possible summer transfer, and with just weeks to go until the transfer deadline, Smyth may end up staying in Northern Ireland until January.
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