Sunderland are one of a host of clubs looking to snare the services of highly-rated 17-year-old Luca Murphy, according to TeamTalk.

Murphy has been on the books of National League side Hartlepool, but has recently left the club after failing to break through at Victoria Park.

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He's now a free agent and that's sparked a scramble for his signature, with Manchester United, Tottenham, Newcastle, Leicester, Cardiff and Wolves all thought to be interested in adding him to their development sides.

Murphy has been the subject of strong rumours for a while now, with Fulham and West Ham both watching him in December. A move didn't materialise, but scouts have kept on watching his progress.

Jack Ross is also thought to be an admirer, with the Black Cats able to offer Murphy a career path much closer to home.

Murphy was with Pools from the age of nine and is a commanding two-footed centre back.

Anyone signing him up would still have to pay the Monkey Hangers a compensation fee, despite him having left three months before the end of his contract.

The Verdict

There's promise and potential in Murphy, but the number of other clubs involved in the hunt is worrying.

Often, those clubs will just have sent a scout, rather than offering anything firm.

If  Murphy were to look at the likes of Denver Hume and George Honeyman, he might be convinced the best chance of first team football is in the north east of England with the Black Cats.