University College Dublin centre-back Liam Scales has emerged as a summer target for Bristol Rovers.
Bristol Live understands Rovers have contacted the League of Ireland club over the availability of the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international and sources indicate a deal could be close.
The 19-year-old could even link up with the Rovers squad when they visit Dublin next week for a short pre-season trip, which features a friendly against St Mochta's.
Scales is one of a number of talented UCD players who have caught the eye and both he and winger Neil Farrugia were invited to train with Premier League champions Manchester City's Under-23 side in April.
Farrugia, 19, has turned down a possible move to Championship sides Middlesbrough and QPR over the last 12 months to complete his Biomedical Science degree and instead has signed for Shamrock Rovers earlier this month.
Scales, however, finished his studies in April and is now expected to leave Ireland with Rovers manager Graham Coughlan using his contacts in Ireland to help prepare a successful pitch to bring him to the Mem.
The size of the transfer fee is unclear but it's expected to be a minimal amount for a defender whose development has accelerated rapidly over the last 12 months.
As UCD manager Collie O'Neill has admitted, the club will never stand in the way of a player's ambitions.
"We always do what’s best for the players," he said in April. "It will always be their decision. If they choose themselves that they want to go, we’ll happily support what the players want to do."
After playing a key role in guiding UCD to promotion from the First Division into the League of Ireland he has become a mainstay of O'Neill's side at the heart of defence and captained the team during Friday's 1-0 defeat against St Patrick's Athletic.
He earned a call-up to Stephen Kenny's squad for the prestigious Toulon Tournament where Ireland reached the semi-finals with Scales the starting centre-back.
Scales was a winger in his teenage years but has gradually been moved into defence, first as a left-back and then into the centre of defence where his ability on the ball has really stood out.
Tall and physically strong, he may take some time to adapt to the faster-paced nature of League One football but Rovers could have a real talent on their hands if a deal can be completed.
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