Flying the nest: Young Scots Mark Reynolds and Andy Halliday are interesting Newcastle United. Pic: ©STV
Mark Reynolds and Andy Halliday are both transfer targets for Newcastle United. The young Scottish pair, who play for Motherwell and Livingston respectively, are both in high demand south of the border and look odds on to join a growing contingent of young Scots plying their trade in England.
Magpies boss Chris Hughton took in Tuesday night’s SPL fixture between Motherwell and St Mirren and was originally thought to be monitoring ‘Well keeper John Ruddy, who is on loan from Everton.
However Reynolds, 22, was the focus of the Newcastle manager's attentions as the young central defender put in another fine performance that belied his years, keeping a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw that extended Craig Brown’s team’s unbeaten run to 11 league games, in which they have conceded just two goals.
Reynolds has 18 months remaining on his current deal but Motherwell may be willing to let the player, who was subject of a failed bid from Rangers in 2008, leave for pastures new, rather than allowing him to run his contract down.
Motherwell manager Brown admitted earlier in the week that there had been interest from clubs in England but said he was unaware of another reported bid from PSV Eindhoven.
“I don’t know about the Dutch but I know of interest from England because I’ve spoken to one or two managers who have asked me about him,” said Brown. “I can only give him the highest possible praise – he is outstanding.
"He deserves a successful career at the top level. To go to England, the finance is totally different and it would be a good move for him.”
While Hughton was watching Reynolds at St Mirren Park, his other transfer target Halliday was scoring in Livingston’s 2-0 win over Queens Park at Almondvale Stadium.
Middlesbrough were recently attributed with a move for the latest talent to roll off the production line at the Third Division club, with Gordon Strachan keen to land the player on loan with a view to a permanent transfer at the end of the season.
The goalscoring left winger, aged 18, broke into the Livingston first team in January 2009 under now-Dundee United coach Paul Hegarty, having scored a remarkable 24 goals from midfield in just 17 appearances for Livi's under-19's side last season.
This campaign he has scored 12 in 23 games as the West Lothian side have surged to the top of the Third Division table.
Should Halliday head south, he will follow in the footsteps of former team-mates Graham Dorrans, now with West Bromwich Albion, Leeds’ Robert Snodgrass, James McPake, who is at Coventry City and Burnley prospect Joe McKee.
