Burnley are reportedly closing in on their first signing of the summer transfer window in the form of teenager Dane McCullough.
Football Insider reported that the Clarets are in advanced talks to sign the 16-year-old from Portadown in his native Northern Ireland. If the deal goes through soon, he would become the first player brought in by the Premier League club in the current transfer window, as per TransferMarkt.
McCullough made history in April 2019 when, upon his introduction as a substitute in a match against Ballinamallard United, he became the youngest first team player in Portadown’s history at the age of just 15 (as per Portadown FC on Twitter).
He has gone on to make a further three appearances for the club, who gained promotion back to the top flight this year, having been top of the second tier when the Northern Irish leagues were abandoned amid the global pandemic (as per Football Insider).
Portadown’s official website describes the teenage left-back as “tough in the tackle” with a “great desire to get forward to create with his wicked left foot”, while he can also play in midfield.
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As noted by Football Insider, his tender age means that he would not go straight into the first team picture at Burnley but instead develop under Jonathan Pepper in the academy ranks.
First team manager Sean Dyche included several youngsters such as Jimmy Dunne, Mace Goodridge, Anthony Glennon and Josh Benson on the bench for Premier League games towards the end of last season but did not give any of those players a senior Burnley debut as of yet, an indication that he tends to be patient with giving youth its fling rather than throwing them straight into the fray.
Assuming McCullough’s transfer to Burnley goes through, it could take at least another couple of years before he is seriously considered for a senior debut, given that he has yet to reach his adult years and that Dyche takes a patient approach with blooding young players into the first team.
Nonetheless, that Portadown thought him good enough for their first team at the tender age of 15 is an indication that the youngster has talent and maturity in abundance, and Dwight McNeil has shown that players can rise through the academy ranks at Burnley to become first team regulars if they are deemed good enough.
Burnley fans, what do you make of McCullough as the likely first signing of the summer transfer window? Comment below with your views!
