Football League World
·6 October 2024
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·6 October 2024
Man City and Man United are both considering deals for an exciting pair of young Swansea City talents
Manchester City and Manchester United are both set to compete to sign Swansea City duo Brogan Popham and Harlan Perry.
According to The Mirror, the two teenagers are already attracting Premier League interest.
Neither have yet to sign a professional deal, meaning they could be poached from Swansea for a nominal fee, potentially decided by an independent tribunal.
The Swans will be hoping to keep hold of two talented youngsters from their academy system.
While neither are likely to feature in Luke Williams’ first team squad just yet, both have the potential to break into the Championship side at some point in the near future.
It is understood that both Manchester clubs are keeping tabs on the situation surrounding Popham and Perry.
Perry, still only 16-years-old, is not eligible to sign his first pro deal until he turns 17 next month.
Meanwhile, Popham has already turned 17 but has yet to put pen to paper on a deal with Swansea.
This has opened the door for other clubs to potentially swoop in and agree a move to sign either player to their first contract.
While the second division side will be entitled to a compensation fee, the figure is likely to pale in comparison to any deal they could agree if the pair were already tied down to contracts with the club.
It’s believed Arsenal and Tottenham also have an interest in the duo, although it is Man United and Man City that have stepped up their interest in recent weeks.
Perry has already earned a call-up to the Wales under 17 international team, with the midfielder earning a lot of admirers for his underage level performances.
Popham has similarly built up a reputation for how he has played, earning a place in the Wales U18 team already.
Williams’ side have earned 12 points from nine games, winning three, drawing three and losing three.
The gap to the play-off places is already four points, with the team struggling for consistent form in the opening stages of this new season.
The south Wales outfit won’t play again until their trip to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers on 19 October, as the league now goes on pause due to the upcoming international break.
It is clear that Popham and Perry have a lot of potential if they’re already attracting interest from so many big clubs.
There’s not much they can do to convince either player to stay if the top Premier League sides come knocking.
However, offering them a clear pathway to first team football might be what it takes, as it could take a couple more years to do the same at a side like Man City or Man United.
Swansea will be keen to keep their brightest young prospects, but this is likely the only way they can do so at this stage.