Former Middlesbrough and Chelsea star issues warning to Newcastle United transfer target

The youngster has been the subject of transfer speculation in recent weeks.
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Former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has warned Newcastle United transfer target Garang Kuol what would lie ahead should he accept a move to Europe.

Despite only making his professional debut last December, the 17-year-old forward has quickly come to the attention of several clubs around Europe after making a big impact for Central Coast Mariners.

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Kuol marked his senior bow with a goal in a 6-0 win over APIA Leichardt late last year and matched that achievement on his league debut as his side romped to a 5-0 win over Wellington Phoenix.

Since those strikes, he has gone on to score four goals in ten games for the Mariners and also impressed when he was selected to represent the A-League All-Stars against Barcelona earlier this summer.

The Catalan giants are just one of a number of clubs that have shown an interest in the youngster - but recent reports have suggested Newcastle are leading the chase for his services and could secure a deal during the January transfer window.

However, former Boro star Schwarzer has warned the young forward about the challenges he will face if he accepted an early move to Europe.

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When asked what advice he would give Kuol, he told The GegenPod: “Get your head down. Don’t get sucked in by all the attention, don’t let your head get pulled up into the clouds. Wherever you go, even if it’s a big club or a small club, keep doing the basics.

“Keep doing the right things because we’ve seen it with players leaving Australia in the past and they’d thought they’d already made it when in fact they’d gotten nowhere near it and after a couple of years, they fell by the wayside.

“Just because you’re a talent at this age doesn’t mean it’ll last forever. I’m the first person to say ‘Go to Europe’ - if you’re good enough to make it in Europe, that’s where you’ll want to be. But that’s where the hard work starts - it’s hard to get there but it’s even harder staying there.”

Kuol is currently on international duty with Australia after being handed his maiden senior call-up for a friendly double-header with Chris Wood’s New Zealand.