2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Michael Scully)
Victor Ozhianvuna will be the LOI's first €2m-plus transfer - with Arsenal favourites to sign the Shamrock Rovers teenager. Hoops boss Stephen Bradley has revealed that Ozhianvuna, who turned 16 in January, is wanted by a host of top European clubs and said that a move is imminent, with Rovers' sporting director Stephen McPhail close to agreement with several clubs. "You're talking about one of the best players," claimed Bradley.
"You'll see this going forward. "100% the interest is genuine. The discussions that these clubs are having with Stephen Mc are right down the line.
This isn't a phone call, 'how's things?', this is right down the line financials here. So this is serious stuff. "Stephen McPhail’s job is to take a fee to the board that is agreed.
I’d imagine that’s not too far away and then it’s up to Victor. Himself, his representatives and family will be decide where he feels right to go." Arsenal are believed to be the front-runners in the race for Ozhianvuna's services, while Manchester United are also in the mix.
He has been played at wing-back by Rovers this season, coming off the bench in the season opener against Bohs at the Aviva Stadium before making his European debut against Molde. "It’s about finding the right moments to play him but ability you’ll see in the next years what he’s about. He can play anywhere.
I’ve seen him play as a six, 10 and even up front. "He’s a bit of throwback in how he plays fearlessly. You can see that versatility will help him going forward.
" Similarly to St Patrick's Athletic striker Mason Melia, who has signed a €1.9m deal to join Tottenham, Ozhianvuna will have to stay with his Dublin club until he turns 18. That won't happen until January 2027, so the pre-contract arrangement will be similar to that of Melia.
"We know he's a special talent and hence why all the top ones around Europe want him," Bradley said. "I know those discussions are ongoing and Stephen has had a lot of detailed discussions regarding that. I imagine it's something that will happen in the near future.
" Asked if he would advise Ozhianvuna to stay with Rovers until the end of next season, Bradley replied: "Well, Victor is a kid who trusts us, he trusts the information that he gets. "Like I said, he's a special talent - wherever is decided for Victor we will back. But I think he understands the value of being here and playing here and learning here, and I've no doubt that will be the case going forward.
" The Hoops boss stressed that Ozhianvuna is not feeling under pressure to make a decision. "Victor doesn't operate like that," he said. "We've had a number of these clubs ask him to go over and watch a game, to try to show him around, but he has no interest.
"It's 'if you want me, speak to the club'. He's full time with us. But he just wants to play the game, whether it's in the car park or in Tallaght Stadium, he just wants to play.
"Every week he's annoying me to play for the 17s or the 20s when he doesn't play for us and because we have his schedule, we haven't been able to do that, we're trying to mind him. But he just wants to play. None of that will bother him.
" Bradley said that he now insists that players are full-time with the club before they play for Rovers' first team. "Why should we give anyone a platform that's not committed to the club," he asked. "I don't agree with that.
I think the club is very aligned on that, and Victor trusts us, he has committed to us long term. "We all understand where Victor's future is going to be, we understand that, he understands that, but there's also steps to get to that. The fact that he's committed to us and showed that trust, so we can expose him in those situations and give him a platform to show that talent.
"But if players don't commit to the club it's not my job to give them a platform to walk out the door for nothing. I'm very comfortable in that scenario. If you’ve got the ability, the talent, the attitude, and the desire, and commit to the club, you’ll get your chance.
"I think this club has set standards on and off the pitch for a long, long time in terms of selling players. I don’t think there is anyone in the country that has come close to that since my reign being here. "If young players commit to us and are good enough, they’ll get their opportunities and whatever will be, will be.
But if they don’t commit, there's definitely no path here." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts ..
