Newcastle United keen on highly-rated teenager in stunning out of window transfer
Newcastle United are interested in West Bromwich Albion's highly-rated youngster Jayden Kouossu - but face stiff competition for his signature.
Just 15, it is believed that United are among a clutch of top clubs keen and some reports say Newcastle have beaten Chelsea and Fulham to Kouossu's signature after he spent eight years with the West Brom Academy. Nothing is yet confirmed at the Newcastle end.
Kouossu operates as a central midfielder and will get his chance to shine in the club's Under-16s this season as Newcastle try to rebuild their youth ranks. The teenager posted a message on his Instagram account reading: "Never thought this day would come but I announce with a heavy heart after 8 years at the club that I have officially left West Brom.
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"I would like to give a huge thank you to all the coaches and staff for pushing me to my limits year after year and all of the outstanding team-mates throughout the years on the pitch. But I believe this decision was necessary and the story must continue, thank you Baggies."
Kouossu would join a clutch of youngsters such as Rory Finneran from Blackburn Rovers, Miodrag Pivas from FK Jedinstvo Ub and Alfie Harrison who joined from Man City earlier in the year.
Harper has had the green light to continue as Academy boss from new sporting director Paul Mitchell with a series of staff appointments confirmed last month. Speaking earlier this year on the club's youth system, which came under fire when Bobby Clark was lost to Liverpool, Harper said: “Where we were, where we are now and where we’re heading are three very different things.
"We were 10 to 12 years behind some other category one academies but now we’re caught up to where we’re probably only two or three years behind. That’s thanks to the support from the board and the excellent team we’ve got here now."