5 May 2014

Done Deal: LFC sign young starlet who rejected Man United and Chelsea

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has seemingly made his first new signing of the summer.

Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal to sign 14-year old striker Glen McAuley from Dublin team St Joseph's Boys.

LFC sign young players all the time, but this deal is notable because Reds boss Brendan Rodgers 'personally involved himself' in the deal. According to the Irish Examiner this week:

* Rodgers flew to Dublin to hold face-to-face discussions with the player and his family.

* McAuley was wanted by Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United but rejected all three for Liverpool.

* The youngster even met with former Man United manager Alex Ferguson.

* McAuley - who used to play for Robbie Keane's boyhood club, Crumlin United - has signed a a pre-contract agreement with the Reds.

McCauley won’t move to Liverpool on a full-time basis until his 16th birthday, but in the meantime, he'll visit the club’s Academy on a regular basis.

In 2013, St. Joseph's Boys lost the SFAI Troy Cup final to St. Francis, and the match report in the Dublin Gazette offered a brief insight into what McAuley has to offer:

"St Francis's held the slender advantage until deep into the second half when lively St Joseph’s winger Glen McCauley broke into the box, skipped around a tackle before finishing off a fine solo goal".

At this time, that's all the information there is about McAuley. To be honest, this is probably the first and last time fans will ever hear of this guy. As per the usual template: He'll toil for a few years in the academy; go out on loan, and then disappear into obscurity. Or not, as the case may be.

It must be massively exciting to be pursued by LFC at such a young age, though. McAuley should enjoy it whilst it lasts.

Author:


37 comments:

  1. liverpool4life56511:22 am, May 05, 2014

    Or he can go down and do what sterling has done...

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  2. You never know JK....................It seems everyone wanted this kid!!.

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  3. See I always thought, 'meh...at least they can conjure some effort to wave some big flags around'. However, they have seem 'staff' on the back of their shirts for a reason ;)
    So plastic. Even making their own plastic flag-wavers.

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  4. I admire these kids who get snapped up at such a young age. Clubs have probably known of this guy for years. It's just mind blowing, so good on him!

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  5. McAuley is only 14, I don't think he wants a baby just yet :)

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  6. anthony montague12:01 pm, May 05, 2014

    You have a strange attitude to Liverpool's transfer policy.
    Chelsea , City and United have a deplorable record in bringing young players from their academy to 1st team regulars. I suspect Sterling and Flannagan would not have prospered there.
    Young players much better off with Rodgers.

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  7. Typical Liverpool buying instead of developing,never be like eEvertonwho believe in youth players.....ddon'tmention ssterlingeither as he was bought fromqpr for5m.

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  8. Everton hardly even have money though

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  9. Slipperie_Slope12:56 pm, May 05, 2014

    A good friend of mine is a past teacher of his and a former coach at U14 level who he played for at the age of 11. He has been going on about this kid for years. He has bags of natural talent and could be special if he works and applies himself. Good to see he is taking the first step. Gonna take a lot of work and a lot of luck.
    Wish him all the best and will watch his progress with interest over the next few years, I hope.

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  10. Ithink Ibe will be a great exception of that routine...

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  11. Dude seriously get your facts right before you talk bs...
    Sterling was bought for £600.000 from qpr

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  12. captainfantastic2:38 pm, May 05, 2014

    yea you have no clue what youre talking about so please silence haha

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  13. Still a very, very long road for this young player and just like many other youngsters at his age will be up against it. All of the best to him.

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  14. Seriously JK, like I know you try to always be realistic, but there's a difference between realistic and pessimistic. "This is probably the first and last time fans will ever hear of this guy." Have some faith man. Look at Sterling. Otherwise what's the point in even having an academy?

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  15. It's not pessimism, it's reality. My view is based on 30 years of history. Sterling is the exception, not the rule. Dozens of youngsters have crashed and burned, and history proves that, yet fans use Sterling as some kind of catch-all example of success. The probability is that McAuley will not make it. Sorry, bit that's just the way it is.

    Sent from Samsung Mobile

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  16. I was at a Christening once and JK turned up to say "nice baby- shame it'll die scared and alone, as we all eventually will".

    When the parents objected JK simply said "Sorry, but that's reality".

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  17. Can you give me the link to the last years' article with posters giving their opinion on that season and this one?

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  18. Philip Keating4:47 pm, May 05, 2014

    Jk Rafa has gone.. New manager in now who actually knows how to coach and draw out talent, so the probability of a future at Liverpool has shot up from zero percent, to about 1 in 10.

    Got a hangover after a heavy night???

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  19. Sure history suggests he probably won't make it, but all Ronaldos and Messis of today were kids once too, who I'm sure people also thought when they were 14 that they might not have made it either. The point is, you have to at least give them a chance because you might find that one in a million who's becomes the next best player. Not saying Macauley is the world's next best player but you never know.

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  20. Torres is the biggest waste of money for me. Carroll coming a close second

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  21. Haha no wonder Fellaini's been rubbish if he's being over analised!!

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  22. That reminded me of a story my High School teacher told me. She was at a huge family gathering (Thanksgiving I believe here in the States) and everyone was laughing and having a good time. There were like 20 people around the table, and after dinner they were joking around and just having fun. Suddenly in the midst of all the merryment her mother-in-law gets up and says "Make sure your life insurance policy is up to date everyone! You never know when you will go." And no, she wasn't drunk.

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  23. My personal favorite part of the Fellaini sage is that they could have paid about 4m by meeting his release clause but low-balled Everton for both Fellaini and Baines.

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  24. Oh come on! Give me a break!!

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  25. My team for tonight


    --------------Mignolet-------------
    Johnson-Skrtel-Sakho-Flanno
    --------------Gerrard--------------
    -----Coutinho------Allen---------
    --------------Sterling--------------
    ---------Suarez----Sturridge----


    Come on Liverpool. Keep the dream alive!

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  26. Sounds like a threat to me...

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  27. Official team
    Mignolet, Johnson, Flanagan, Skrtel, Sakho, Gerrard, Allen, Lucas, Sterling, Sturridge, Suarez



    No Coutinho?

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  28. @pete hahaha u lagend

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  29. lagend... hahaha

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  30. Vermhat - I object to this. You're embellishing what actually happened. I merely pointed out to the parents that we all die eventually. I said nothing about dying 'scared and alone'.

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  31. Great. Himself and o'Hanlon can tell stories about how they met Kenny and Rodgers respectively. And then, maybe, six years from now, they may turn out for us in our first team and then we can really get excited.

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  32. Patrick Ó Fearghasa10:43 pm, May 05, 2014

    Why write the article and then be so negative about it? If City, Chelsea, and United wanted him, he must have special qualities.

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  33. Fair enough. This happened last week and I was severely drunk after the Chelsea game to drown my sorrows...

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  34. Jaimie: I wonder if you would repeat Loganlfc's full reply to my post of 4 days ago when I criticised BR for chasing wingers when it was clear to most Red's supporters that his priorities were a strong midfield enforcer and a dominating central defender. He replied: (Paraphrase)
    "I cannot believe what I have just read.....etc" - Can he believe it now after seeing the club's great performance this season descend into farce as a pathetic defence gave away a three goal lead to Crystal Palace and almost certainly ended any remaining hope of us winning the league title. When we take up so much space you provide on your website I believe it only right that we are held accountable for what we say.

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  35. this guy is a baller with a big long neck !!

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  36. didn't fly from Ireland , he did kicky ups with a tennis ball all the way !!!!!!!!!!!

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  37. morgan boyes is a bowl headed muppet

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