Newcastle United lead Wolverhampton Wanderers in race for ‘unplayable’ young talent

Newcastle United have reportedly made a move to sign highly-rated Northern Ireland youth international Corey Smith.

The Dungannon Swifts winger has made just a handful of senior appearances but was rewarded for his progression through the NIFL Premiership club’s academy when he signed a new deal last week. Still only 18-years-old, Smith scored his first senior goal earlier this month when he came off the bench to find the net in a 1-1 draw with Glenavon.

Discussing the decision to hand the youngster a new deal, first-team manager Dean Shiels told Dungannon’s YouTube channel: “I think Corey is one of a number of talented players at the club that we’re delighted to tie down. He deserves his new contract.

“He has sometimes been unplayable in the Under 20 games this season. He has got that talent where he can go one vs one. We want wide players to attack and score goals, and he is exactly the type of player we’re delighted to have at the club. As you saw against Glenavon, coming on and scoring. He is going to be a big player for this club going forward.”

Despite putting pen-to-paper on a deal, Smith is said to be attracting attention from a number of Premier League clubs with Newcastle and Wolves both confirmed as interested parties in a report from Belfast Live. They have gone as far as suggesting the Magpies have made a move for the youngster as they look to continue their push to add more young talent to their academy system.

The move comes just days after Bohemians prospect Reece Byrne confirmed he was joining United in the summer - although the Magpies are yet to officially confirm the signing of the young goalkeeper.