SOUTHEND UNITED boss Phil Brown has called Manchester City’s signing kid Finley Burns as an “absolute punt”
City have forked out £175,000 for 13-year-old Burns potentially rising to £250,000 for the Southend academy youngster, a record deal for a player of that age.
Burns, had been attracting interest from a host of Premier League clubs, but Brown who thought the teenager looked a decent prospect has told talkSPORT City are taking an ‘absolute punt’ on the centre back.
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Brown told the Alan Brazil Sport Breakfast:” We had Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City interested in the lad.
"He came up top in their scouting system. He's a central defender, a decent player, but I just can't see them at that age.
"When they get to 17,18 and start coming through the first team ranks, I start to noticing it then, but at 14,16,16, I don't see it. Brown added.
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Brown also gave an insight into the cost of running a Football League academy admitted the City offer was too good to refuse.
"It's an absolute punt, but they have the money to be able to afford that.
"Our whole academy system costs £240,000 to £250,000 to run, so for somebody like Man City to come in and buy one of our younger, precocious talents, you have to let them go and accept it."
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