Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Wolves are close to signing 16-year-old Mateus Mane from National League side Rochdale.
Gary O’Neil has orchestrated a magical season at Wolves. The Wanderers are on the cusp of European qualification in the Premier League, and this Saturday lunchtime, they can book their place in an FA Cup semi-final by beating Coventry City.
The 40-year-old has reinvigorated the whole of Molineux and got supporters dreaming again following a tumultuous summer with FFP restrictions and selling their best players.
With a small squad at his disposal, injuries to key players have seen O’Neil use some youngsters from the academy.
19-year-old Nathan Fraser is the biggest success story to emerge from the academy this term while 15-year-old Wesley Okoduwa was named on the bench in the defeat against Newcastle United.
O’Neil has demonstrated he has one eye on the future and is a firm believer in rewarding youngsters with opportunities, which explains why they are close to signing a talented teenager.
Fabrizio Romano says Wolves are close to signing 16-year-old Mateus Mane
A product of Rochdale’s academy, Mane plays as a striker for the Dale under-16s and has been a regular for the youth team this season, as well as impressing manager Jim McNulty in a first-team training session.
Describing his impact on the youth side as “fantastic” and lauding him as a “real talent”, the 16-year-old made the first-team squad for a National League clash against Dagenham & Redbridge.
Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, Wolves are close to signing the 2007-born youngster from the Rochdale academy.
The Premier League side are reportedly close to “finalising details” as an agreement to bring him to Molineux reaches ever closer.
One for the future
Mane doesn’t turn 17 till September, which means he’s still at school and won’t sign a scholarship till the summer.
Once he does, he’ll slot straight into the under-18 side at Wolves and the Englishman will be desperate to show his talent at a much higher level.
The striker has impressed at a fifth-tier side, but the scouts at Molineux must see something special in him to prise him away from Rochdale.
The fact he’s already made a matchday squad for the first team is an impressive achievement in itself, regardless of the division they’re playing in.
With that said, Mane could be a potentially exciting signing and it will be interesting to see how his development plays out in the next couple of years.