Mason Melia, a sensation from St. Patrick’s, is a top target for Celtic and Brighton, insiders tell Football Insider.
The 16-year-old had already drawn interest from Man City and Everton, but Celtic and Brighton have jumped ahead of the competition and are getting ready to make formal offers.
After a trial time with the Premier League champions last season, the center-forward did not receive a contract offer.
Everton was vying for his signature, as Football Insider reported in March, but negotiations over a contract came to a standstill.
Melia, who made his debut for the Dublin-based team in 2023, is still regarded as one of the most promising young players to come out of Ireland.
The competition to sign St. Patrick’s gem is led by Celtic and Brighton. Melia Mason
Melia, who is only 16 years old, has already made 43 senior games for St. Patrick’s Athletic, contributing three assists and seven goals.
In contrast to his 28 appearances in all competitions during the previous season, he made two appearances in the Europa Conference League qualifications this summer.
Additionally, he has played age-group representation for the Republic of Ireland, winning praise from all around the world for his performances from the Under-15s to the Under-19s.
Celtic, on the other hand, has deep Irish ties and hopes to pull off a major upset if they can recruit the 16-year-old before English rivals.
At Parkhead, current Ireland internationals Mikey Johnston, Bosun Lawal, and Liam Scales offer the young Irishman a clear road forward.
