Connor Wickham

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Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea scramble to sign Connor Wickham - the next Wayne Rooney

Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea will be involved in an unprecedented scramble to sign 16-year-old striker Connor Wickham from Ipswich in January.

Wickham, the youngest first-team player in Ipswich's history, is regarded in the game as the most exciting young Englishman to emerge since Wayne Rooney.

He added to his fast-growing reputation with a hat-trick for England Under-17s a fortnight ago and Roy Keane's club fear he may be lured away before he can sign a professional contract in March.

The Premier League's Big Four are all chasing him - the first time that has happened with a teenager in England - with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger both taking a keen interest, while Aston Villa and Tottenham are also trying to get him.

A club source said: 'Whenever Wickham is down to play for the first team or reserves, two dozen scouts emerge out of nowhere to watch him. The consensus is he's as good as Rooney was at that age but is a lot bigger.'

Colchester-born Wickham is already 6ft 3in and has still to agree a contract at Ipswich, leaving them vulnerable to approaches from the big clubs. Although Ipswich would be in line for compensation, a fee would have to be decided by tribunal should all parties be unable to agree a figure.

In 2008 Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan said he felt 'mugged and brutalised' after being awarded just £700,000 when John Bostock left the Championship club to join Spurs.

Bostock yesterday scored twice for Brentford, where he is on loan from Spurs, in the 2-2 draw against Millwall in their League One match at Griffin Park.

Wickham became Ipswich's youngest player when he made his debut against Doncaster Rovers last season aged just 16 years and 11 days.

He scored his first senior goals in the Carling Cup against Shrewsbury this season and, although manager Keane has used him mainly as a substitute, he is likely to start at home to Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday as Ipswich chase only their second win of the season.

Wickham, who can officially turn professional only on his 17th birthday on March 31, scored a hat-trick in 21 minutes for England in the UEFA Under 17s Championship in a 4-0 win against Azerbaijan in Baku, helping to book his country's place in next year's elite round.

Keane has been trying to shield the player against high expectations, but the Irishman did say: 'Connor is a great talent, there's no doubt about that.'
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Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea scramble to sign Connor Wickham - the next Wayne Rooney | Mail Online

Anyone seen him play? Is he actually anywhere near that good? If so, he must be some talent and already seems to be in the limelight.
 
apparently arsenal and spuds are interested @ 7m

is he really that good ?
 
"the most exciting young Englishman to emerge since Wayne Rooney."

This is like the fourth in 2 years.
 
He looked very impressive in the U17 side that won the Euros. A lot of potential, not sure about the Rooney comparison but it's inevitable i suppose.
 
Xander45 said:
He looked very impressive in the U17 side that won the Euros. A lot of potential, not sure about the Rooney comparison but it's inevitable i suppose.
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Was he the centre forward?

I thought the main advantage he had was that he was physically more developed than the others. Very big and strong for his age. Wasn't blown away by his skill or technique.

Our own Will Keane was the opposite. A skinny length of rope but silky skills.

You'd have to say someone that fits the latter description has the greater potential.

I could be talking about completely the wrong player, mind you!
 
Xander45 said:
He looked very impressive in the U17 side that won the Euros. A lot of potential, not sure about the Rooney comparison but it's inevitable i suppose.
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Very developed physically, gives him a big advantage at u17/u19 level but didn't seem to have particularly impressive technique which would last him once he gets to play with the big boys in the grownups league. Not seen him at all for Ipswich though so it's hard for me to judge definitively.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Was he the centre forward?

I thought the main advantage he had was that he was physically more developed than the others. Very big and strong for his age. Wasn't blown away by his skill or technique.

Our own Will Keane was the opposite. A skinny length of rope but silky skills.

You'd have to say someone that fits the latter description has the greater potential.

I could be talking about completely the wrong player, mind you!
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Yeah he was, he is better built than most 17 year olds which helps him and i'd actually want him to go to Arsenal to help his technical side. Although i hope he stays at Ipswich for another season just to get some actual game time in a competitive league.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Was he the centre forward?

I thought the main advantage he had was that he was physically more developed than the others. Very big and strong for his age. Wasn't blown away by his skill or technique.

Our own Will Keane was the opposite. A skinny length of rope but silky skills.

You'd have to say someone that fits the latter description has the greater potential.

I could be talking about completely the wrong player, mind you!
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I'd be inclined to agree with that assessment.

Having watched him play in quite a few matches, must say he hardly blew me away and he has no chance of being the next wayne rooney.

Maybe the next Alan Shearer which isn't that bad an achievement either.
 
Raees said:
I'd be inclined to agree with that assessment.

Having watched him play in quite a few matches, must say he hardly blew me away and he has no chance of being the next wayne rooney.

Maybe the next Alan Shearer which isn't that bad an achievement either.
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Maybe the next Alan Shearer? How can you say that without a smiley? If you mean it, we sign him. Fecking hell :)
 
Striker10 said:
Maybe the next Alan Shearer? How can you say that without a smiley? If you mean it, we sign him. Fecking hell :)
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Because at the moment we are judging him against players with inferior technique and physical ability. Its only once he does it against stronger players that you think yeah this boy isn't just strong for his age, he's geniuinely a tough number 9 capable of goals at the highest level.
 
Looked like a big lad who will get found out when the others catch up with him physically.
 
I can remember Pogba in the game between England and France in the knock out stage, he bossed the midfield and truelly stood out. Add to the fact his leg was heavily strapped up and he wasn't very mobile, it was quite a performance from the young lad. Although it was only against other boys, against men in the reserves he struggled to impose himself although it only been a couple of games.

I haven't seen much of Wickham aside from the Euro's, but other than his raw pace and power there wasn't all that much else to his game. I'd like to see how he actually gets on at Ipswich for another season, as he'd get know where near Arsenal or Tottenham's first team for a fair few years.
 
No chance....

Northern Ireland target Ipswich superkid Wickham
16.08.10 | tribalfootball.com


Wickham is a big money target for Tottenham and Arsenal.

The Daily Mail says the Northern Ireland FA’s ancestry department, led by manager Nigel Worthington, have traced the birthplace of the 17-year-old’s father Stefan to Ulster and have made a cheeky approach to Wickham to represent them instead of England.

Wickham won the U17 European Championship with England this summer.
 
Apparently he is going to have a medical at Sunderland on Wednesday. I m happy for Bruce and Sunderland.
 
RDCR07 said:
Apparently he is going to have a medical at Sunderland on Wednesday. I m happy for Bruce and Sunderland.
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Few teams in P.L needs a striker more than Sunderland - and after selling Bent and Henderson - few smaller teams can afford it more than they can
 
Does this mean that Liverpoo have been a victim of the dreaded "snub?"
 
Good signing for both parties, he will surely move on from Sunderland in a few years though.
 
@ InsideLFC twitter

Daily Mirror are full of shit. If Wickham goes to Sunderland I will give my season ticket to charity to auction
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Oh and by the way, season ticket is non-transferable... I will however make a donation should the transfer to Sunderland happen
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Thats all for tonight, long day ahead tomorrow, but dont believe that the Wickham deal is dead until its signed and sealed.
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Wonders if all the knockers will be so quick to come out of the woodwork when Wickham turns down Sunderland.... Doubt it somehow
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:lol::lol::lol::lol:
 
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