Newcastle United and Aston Villa are the latest club to send scouts to watch Dundalk’s Europa League star Daryl Horgan
EFL clubs Newcastle United and Aston Villa are the latest teams to send scouts to watch Dundalk's rising star Daryl Horgan.
The winger has been a stand-out played in the Irish side's Europa League campaign, and scored in the recent 2-1 defeat against Zenit St. Petersburg.
Rafa Benitez has been so impressed by the 24-year-old that he sent over representatives of the Magpies to watch the player take part in the FAI Cup Final against Cork City today, where he came out on the losing side, conceding in the last minute of extra-time.
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So far, Horgan has spent his whole career in his native Ireland, but to the delight of managers in England, his contract at Dundalk runs out on December 8 this year.
After his excellent goal away in Russia on Thursday night, Steve Bruce's Villa side have taken an interest in acquiring his services, with Ipswich, Reading and Preston all keeping a watchful eye on his current situation.
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Horgan has recently been named the division's player of the year, and has helped his team win their third straight league title.
In Ireland they play a Summer league, and Horgan has chipped in with ten goals.
He has also been called up to his country's senior squad for the first time as the Green Army take on Austria in their upcoming World Cup qualifier.
Newcastle have been in emphatic form of late, storming to the top of the EFL table, winning their last seven games in a row.
In 16 league games they have found the back of the net 34 times, and if they sign the pacey winger, their chances of instant promotion back into the Premier League could be made that little bit easier.
Aston Villa are also on a rich vein of form, having been languishing near the foot of the table for the majority of the season, they have steadied the ship since ex-Birmingham boss Steve Bruce took charge.
Unbeaten since he became manager, he has guided the Midlands club up the table into 14th - five points off the play-off paces after three wins in their last five games.