Notts County starlet attracting interest of big clubs including Manchester United
YOUNG Notts County goalkeeper Fabian Spiess is attracting serious interest from Premier League champions Manchester United.
The Red Devils have been looking at the 18-year-old German for months and scouts from Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal have all also watched him play this season for the Magpies' youth team and during loans at non-league Lewes and Corby Town.
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Young talent: Fabian Spiess
Spiess was spotted by the Head of Youth at Meadow Lane, Mick Leonard, four years ago when he was coaching at the Jebel Ali International Centre of Excellence in Dubia.
Spiess was living in the Middle East because his dad worked there.
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Leonard returned to England to take charge of the Centre of Excellence at Notts when it was launched in 2008 and later persuaded Spiess to become a scholar at the club.
"When I saw him play for the first time I thought 'Jesus, who's this kid?' I saw straight away he had all the raw materials to be a good goalkeeper," said Leonard.
"He went to Everton for a time on trial, but I kept an eye on him and eventually persuaded him to come to Notts and he has since gone from strength-to-strength."
Spiess has not yet made his debut for the Magpies first team but has shone at youth level and for Lewes and Corby.
Leonard is good friends with the goalkeeping coach at Old Trafford, Eric Steele, and has spoken to him about the teenager's promise.
"Man United have been looking at him for a long time," said Leonard.
"There were also scouts from Man City and Tottenham at our youth game against Doncaster last week and Arsenal watched him when he was out on loan at Lewes.
"He's as good as any young goalkeeper I have seen and I wouldn't be surprised if any of the big clubs did want him. He's got everything a modern goalkeeper needs.
"He's got a lot of ability and a great attitude. He's very mature and is physically very big so he commands his box. He's brave and he kicks the ball well.
"He can go all the way if he keeps working as hard as he is now. He has got so much potential.
"I would love to see him play for our first team. I believe he's good enough and if he did, his value would only rise even more."
Comments
by Steve_NCFC
Tuesday, March 27 2012, 7:57PM
“i'd give him a few games if he's thats good. Surely if he's a class act then it'll only increase his value.”
by GAFFA
Tuesday, March 27 2012, 7:34PM
“could be another pennent worth a million or two to the notts bank balance coyp”
by dave_beeston
Tuesday, March 27 2012, 6:44PM
“I'd give him a few games we are safe from going down and i cannot see him being any worse than Nelson,plus if he does well it adds extra value to him should the opportunity to sell him (and safeguard club finances) present itself.
CraigWigan can i just ask do you have a dislike of goats especially the billy gruff kind ?
Also how do you combat the damp you must get from underneath the bridge where you reside.”
by Craigwigan
Tuesday, March 27 2012, 3:10PM
“CHRIS WOODS IS A CLASS ACT DONT COMPARE DONT COMPARE”
by countytilldie
Tuesday, March 27 2012, 2:31PM
“if he's good enough they should play him.
chris woods was only a kid when forest played him in a wembley final.”
by BenningtonPie
Tuesday, March 27 2012, 2:04PM
“so would I notts4good... and if the long term aim (given the tone of this article) is to sell him, his value would rocket if he had games under his belt.
I like Nelson, he's a good shot stopper but he really does flap about on crosses and corners.... and his habit of kicking the ball straight out of play drives me nuts!”
by notts4good
Tuesday, March 27 2012, 12:13PM
“I'd start him ahead of Nelson to be honest.”