Newcastle United are understood to be interested in signing MK Dons prodigy Recoe Martin, according to the Mirror.
The 18-year-old scored five goals in just 17 minutes last week for the Dons under-18s side as they came from behind to beat Leyton Orient 5-2, and has been dubbed the new Dele Alli.
It is understood that Southampton and Championship leaders Norwich City are also interested in the youngster, who has yet to sign a professional deal with his current club, and could therefore leave for a compensation package.
OPINION
It doesn’t matter who you are or what level you are playing, if you’re hitting five goals in 17 minutes, you clearly have some kind of talent. Martin is still very, very raw, but those kind of performances at the age of 18 are always going to garner attention. The fact that he comes from the same youth academy as Dele Alli is likely to stand him in good stead. It also means that the comparisons are going to be rife, but if he’s good enough then he’s good enough, and there’s nothing in his career up to this point that suggests he couldn’t be a really decent player in the future. Signing a player from the lower leagues, regardless of age, is always a gamble, but if the scouting is done right, and if the attention to detail is spot on, it can be a really profitable way to do business. Competition is likely to be tough, but Newcastle will be hoping they can unearth a real gem with this one.
