PREMIER LEAGUE sides Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool are in a race to sign 17-year-old Peterborough United starlet Ricky-Jade Jones.
The Mail report that Peterborough academy graduate Jones has caught the eye of scouts after scoring on both his full debut against Cambridge and on his first FA Cup appearance against Stevenage this month.
Ricky-Jade Jones, 17, has scored two goals in four games for PeterboroughCredit: Rex Features
Striker Jones was handed his League One debut last Saturday by manager Darren Ferguson with representatives from Tottenham, Manchester United, Southampton and Burnley all in attendance.
At the beginning of the month Ferguson said: “It is just the start, but he has a desire to work hard and that is vitally important.
“He has real quality, is a big lad, has unbelievable pace and is the quickest player that I have worked with.
“I am looking forward to helping him develop.”
Liverpool, Leicester, Arsenal and Manchester City are also thought to be keeping tabs on Peterborough’s speedy striker.
Posh are expecting a flurry of January bids for the highly rated youngster after Tottenham were the first to test their resolve with a £2million offer.
Peterborough rejected the offer and held firm – it is thought a figure nearer £10million is more likely to be accepted for the player.
Peterborough wisely signed Jones up to a professional three-year contract on his 17th birthday earlier this month ahead of the predicted bidding war in the January transfer window.
Posh have a good history of collecting bumper transfer fees for their attacking talent, as Dwight Gayle, Connor Washington, Jack Marriott, Craig Mackail-Smith and Britt Assombalonga all spent time cutting their teeth at London Road before being sold on.
Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony said on Twitter that they had no current plans to sell Jones but he admitted that a couple of years ago he said he would be delighted if the youngster joined Liverpool.
Jones joined Peterborough’s academy when he was nine and was thrilled to sign a professional deal.
Speaking to the Peterborough Telegraph, he said: “The coaches within the Academy have been great with me and the first team manager Darren Ferguson is brilliant as you know that he wants to give young players an opportunity if they earn them.
“It is really important to see there is a pathway and then it is down to me to take the opportunity.
“Signing a professional contract is amazing, it was a great moment for me and my family who have been so supportive.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
