Newcastle United face a fight to retain the services of our highly-rated schoolboy prospect Bobby Clark, according to the Daily Mail.
Clark is understood to have attracted interest from some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, and even from abroad such is his potential, with his reputation in academy football leading to adoring glares from Manchester United, Man City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and now Tottenham Hotspur.
Jose Mourinho’s new side in North London are even thought to have emerged as the frontrunner for his signature, should his family decide that his development would be better served away from Tyneside, where there are concerns over the infrastructure in place at the junior level.
Former Toon manager Rafa Benitez had sought to secure funding to upgrade the facilities during his contract negotiations this summer, as the Spaniard felt there were not enough homegrown talents reaching the first-team.
Managing Director Lee Charnley has more recently spoken on the importance of the academy, when he stated that the club want to have “the best academy in the region”.
Charnley was not too forthcoming on suggesting that any more funds will be spent, though, and instead added that it is a conscious decision to ensure that local youngsters are brought in.
Yet he could be set to see one walk away instead in Clark, although the youngster allegedly would prefer to remain with his hometown club.
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Losing Clark over concerns at the club’s infrastructure will be a bitter pill for club chiefs to swallow, as the starlet is considered to be our most promising schoolboy prospect by first-team boss Steve Bruce.
Clark is set to be involved in the England Under 15s squad when they face the Republic of Ireland and Turkey next month, and has already made club history this season by debuting for our Under 18s aged just 14-years and 206-days.