MANCHESTER CITY and West Ham believe they may have unearthed a ‘young Patrick Vieira’.
Both Premier League clubs sent scouts to watch non-league ace Courtney Clarke, according to The Telegraph.
Pep Guardiola could make a transfer swoop from non-leagueCredit: PA:Press Association
Clarke, 17, plays for Whyteleafe FC in Croydon.
The midfielder has caught the eye after featuring regularly in senior football for the side in the Isthmian League.
And comparisons have been made with Arsenal legend and former City player Vieira thanks to his marauding box-to-box style.
Any potential transfer would be a big step up from the eighth tier of the football pyramid.
But Clarke has also been monitored by Brighton, Millwall and Charlton.
The teenager could be a cut-price addition for The Hammers.
David Moyes’ side are looking to keep costs down amid the coronavirus pandemic.
And Clarke could be brought into their Under-23s set-up as they plan for the future.
The club sold youth product Grady Diangana to West Brom for £18million and hope to reinvest the funds into their squad.
But the sale of the exciting 22-year-old went down like a lead balloon with fans fuming and captain Mark Noble publicly saying he was ‘gutted angry and sad’.
Things went from bad to worse for the East London side over the weekend after they were smashed 5-3 at home by relegated Bournemouth in a pre-season friendly.
Ian Abrahams questions West Ham’s ‘perplexing’ decision to sell fan favourite Grady Diangana
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
