Burnley boss Owen Coyle is set to raid his homeland for two of Ireland’s top talents according to the News of the World.
Cork City’s centre back Kevin Long and St Patricks’ left back Enda Stevens, both 19 years old, are said to have impressed the Burnley boss and he’ll be eager to agree deals with their respective clubs to pick up the two teenagers.
Coyle had the duo watched numerous times over the past month as he looks to assess their suitability to the club. Questions have been asked in the past as to the ability of players to go straight from Ireland to the Premier Division but Reading’s signing of Kevin Doyle from Cork back in 2005 proved that the jump in class between the divisions is manageable.
Some sources suggest that a deal for Long has already been agreed with Sky Sports suggesting that Burnley will pay a six-digit fee for the Cork youngster.
As both players are 19 the likelihood they would make Coyle’s first eleven anytime soon is remote but the duo are believed to have great futures ahead of them and Coyle is hoping to snap them up before their stock rises too high – along with their prices!
