Reid confirms Clarets offer

Accies boss rejects Burnley approach for highly-rated McCarthy

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 2nd July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Reid confirms Clarets offer

McCarthy: Attracts Burnley interest

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Hamilton manager Billy Reid has revealed that Burnley have enquired about teenage sensation James McCarthy.

The 18-year-old has been on the radar of some of Europe's biggest clubs for some time now but the Accies have managed to keep hold of their starlet.

A move to Celtic has strongly been mooted with the midfielder said to favour a switch to Parkhead, however, it is the Clarets that have approached Reid over the possible sale of the youngster.

The Premier League new-boys have been busy in the transfer market this past week with the acquisitions of defender Tyrone Mears and Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher for a record £3million fee, but Reid confirms he has rebuffed their approach for McCarthy.

"I don't deny Burnley have made enquiries about James, but it's not right for us at the minute," he told The Scotsman.

"We know how important an asset he is to us.

Nature of the game

"There has always been interest in James, it's the nature of the game, and we keep him informed at all times.

"I expect to see him at the start of pre-season training next week."

Hamilton are said to value the talented McCarthy at between £750,000 to £1million with clubs such as Barcelona and Manchester United linked to his name in the past.