Hearts are set to lose Keir McMeekin to Manchester City. (Image: Euan Cherry / Shutterstock)
Hearts are set to lose Keir McMeekin to Manchester City. (Image: Euan Cherry / Shutterstock)
Heart of Midlothian are set to lose one of their most promising young talents to the Premier League.
Manchester City are understood to have won the race to sign Keir McMeekin, bringing him to the club next year after he turns 16.
He has attracted significant interest from England over the last 12 months to the point it would be easier to name clubs that haven't watched him.
Both Manchester United and Manchester City made a big push to sign the player, with other clubs also putting their case across.
McMeekin took in a United game at Old Trafford and met Sir Alex Ferguson, but it is City who have emerged as the most attractive proposition.
In such circumstances, it makes it difficult for Hearts to compete with what the Premier League elite can offer.
Hearts had hoped to tie McMeekin down to a professional contract. He has trained regularly with the first team dating back to last season. He has even been involved in bounce games this season.
Yet, the club are preparing to see another of their young starlets be tempted by an English club.
Going back to Marc Leonard joining Brighton, Hearts have become accustomed to emerging talent departing. More recently, Alfie Hutchison has joined Newcastle United via Rangers, Ewan Simpson joined Aston Villa and Everton signed John Dodds.
Hearts are not the only club in Scottish football to suffer such a fate and McMeekin won't be the last, with others in the Hearts academy attracting interest, including Boyd Fraser-Bowman and Peter Kellock.