Irish goalkeeping starlet Conner Byrne had a trial at Leeds but bitter rivals Manchester United could still swoop in.
It’s not often a 14-year-old makes his debut in a top division game. So it should hardly come as a surprise to learn that up to a dozen English clubs were in attendance as the fresh-faced Conner Byrne featured for Glenavon’s first-team recently.
And it appeared initially that Leeds United had stolen a march in the race for one of the hottest prospects in Irish football. According to the Belfast Telegraph, Byrne spent time training with Leeds’ academy last week ahead of a potential move to Elland Road.
With Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Liverpool also linked with the teenage shot-stopper, according to The Mirror, Leeds looked to be on the verge of pulling off quite the coup.
But they cannot afford to pat themselves on the back just yet. Because TEAMtalk is claiming that bitter rivals Manchester United are leading the chase for Byrne and are confident of landing the Northern Ireland Under-16 international.
It’s fair to say Byrne, described by Glenavon chairman Adrian Teer as a ‘great prospect’, would be a long way from fighting for a first-team berth in England. But Leeds will still be disappointed at the prospect of losing out on a hugely talented youngster to the club they despite above all others.
Though Byrne should perhaps consider just how much effort Leeds have put into bringing other talented youngsters to Elland Road this summer, including Ryan Edmondson, Madger Gomes and Adrian Balboa, before committing his future to the United of Manchester.
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