Newcastle United will soon have permanent scouts based in South America, but the Magpies are also looking closer to home for emerging talent for the academy. In fact, in the last year alone, Newcastle have agreed deals for a pair of Ireland under-19 internationals, Alex Murphy and Reece Byrne, and that is not a coincidence.
Although Irish youngsters now have to wait until they are 18 to move to England because of Brexit, the Common Travel Area arrangement means they do not need a work permit like a player of the same age from further afield. Byrne, as a result, has been able to follow in Murphy's footsteps as the club's first signing this summer.
Given how difficult it is for prospects from elsewhere to claim a GBE - that is one of the reasons why Newcastle are looking at the multi-club model to farm these talents out to a European side to get the required experience - the Emerald Isle is attracting its fair share of Premier League talent spotters. Few know that better than Patrick Conliffe, a Dublin-based FA intermediary with the PLG Group, who represent, among others, Liverpool defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson and West Ham star Jarrod Bowen.
