Sunderland are eyeing up another potential raid on the Irish League with promising Coleraine teenager Patrick Kelly the latest player to come onto the League One club’s radar.
The Black Cats secured Linfield's Trai Hume on a four-and-a-half year deal - with the option of another year - for a reported fee of £200,000 last week.
And now Kelly, who is enjoying an impressive breakthrough season at the Showgrounds, is thought to be in Sunderland's sights.
It is understood the Stadium of Light club has watched a number of Coleraine's recent games with the talented 17-year-old the object of their interest.
Kelly, who signed his first professional deal at the Showgrounds in October, made his senior debut in a 3-0 win over Carrick Rangers on September 4.
The Portstewart native, who was promoted to the first team squad at the start of the season, scored his first goal for the club in Saturday’s 6-0 win over Windmill Stars in the Irish Cup.
After handing Kelly his first start in a 3-1 league win over Larne in October, Coleraine boss Oran Kearney hailed the teenager’s confidence and maturity.
“He’s just a cub, but he played like a 26 or 28-year-old,” said Kearney after the Larne win. “We always knew he had technical ability, but his game appreciation is so good.
“I remember there was a lot of talk about Patrick when he was younger, but he didn’t grow and he disappeared off the radar with all the international stuff and trials.
“But when we came back from lockdown, the U20s were training beside us and he had really grown. He walked past me and said in a deep voice ‘alright Oran’. I said ‘come with me’.
“He has a really strong character and mentality. He isn’t loud but he has a real air of self confidence that you love to see in a player.”
Kelly has emerged as one of the hottest properties in the Irish League and it's not a surprise that the teenager is now attracting admiring glances from cross channel clubs.
