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Baba celebrates a goal for Castlebar Celtic. castlebarceltic.wordpress.com

Remember the name: Fulham set to win race for Ireland U19 star Noe Baba

The highly-rated Castlebar Celtic defender is on the verge of joining the Cottagers.

FULHAM LOOK TO have beaten a raft of top clubs for the signature of one of Irish football’s brightest prospects.

Noe Baba, a 16-year-old defender from Castlebar, is currently the country’s most sought-after youngster and has spent time with the likes of Manchester United and Celtic in recent months.

However, despite being paid a visit by United’s Youth Development Officer Brian McClair earlier this year and coming close to joining the SPL champions back in August, he has reportedly turned them both down to agree to join the Cottagers.

Originally from Cameroon, Baba moved to Mayo with his family as a child and has come through the ranks at Castlebar Celtic. He became the first African-born player to captain Ireland when he led out the U17s and was subsequently called up to Paul Doolin’s U19s squad where he featured against Luxembourg in October.

Speaking to TheScore this afternoon, Castlebar Celtic PRO Noel Coll spoke glowingly of the player but said that, while he believes it is Baba’s intention to join Fulham, an agreement has not yet been confirmed to the club.

He’s a lovely lad, he comes from a good family,” Coll said. “I couldn’t speak highly enough of him. He’s a bright lad and would be going to university if it wasn’t for football.

“As far as we are concerned, nothing has been agreed yet. There is no question of his ability so it’s not about trials. It’s about working out a deal that suits both parties and his father will have the final say.”

The Castlebar Celtic U17 team with Baba (centre, holding cup) Credit: Castlebar Celtic

Castlebar Celtic will be entitled to compensation and are hoping to keep links with the player by agreeing an ‘add-ons’ deal which will see them receive payments when Baba achieves goals such as earning a full international cap etc.

Coll adds that it is huge boost for football in a county which is dominated by the GAA.

“We believe that he can go a long way, so don’t want to cut our ties with the players. It’s massive for any club. Especially for a club in the west of Ireland. GAA is still the number one sport in this part of the country and we play second fiddle.

“There are players who wouldn’t be far behind Noe in terms of talent but have chosen GAA instead.

It’s great exposure for the club. At the end of the day, people like myself are trying to create an Irish international and to be part of that would be special.

“There hasn’t been a full international from Mayo in a long time. It’s still a massive GAA county. Maybe it’s something the FAI will have to look into.”

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    Mute Stephen Duggan
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    Jul 5th 2017, 4:00 AM

    Who’s making drunken posts at almost 4am on a Wednesday morning? April 1st was months ago. However, if this is true, IMO Everton will regret this. He’s just not the player he was, nor never will be. There are better catches out there across Europe and across the world. This is backwards thinking from Everton if true, certainly not the foresight they need to be a big club again and challenge for honors.
    But back to reality, who’s the yank in the Journal office who went on the wine for July 4th and hacked the 42?

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    Mute John McClane
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    Jul 5th 2017, 4:38 AM

    @Stephen Duggan: those wages for Everton are crazy

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    Mute philip murphy
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    Jul 5th 2017, 5:46 AM

    @Stephen Duggan: it’s more of a marketing ploy than a football decision which is fair enough. He’d bring huge revenue and attention to the club.

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    Mute Fergal O Lachtnain
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    Jul 5th 2017, 6:26 AM

    @John McClane: my guess would be that Man U would continue to pay part of his wages to get him out the door with minimal fuss.

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    Mute Joe Bloggs
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    Jul 5th 2017, 7:26 AM

    @John McClane: money is no object for Everton these days. It went a bit under the radar but they now have an Iranian billionaire owner who wants them to do a Man City.

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    Mute Stephen Duggan
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    Jul 5th 2017, 8:14 AM

    @philip murphy: A million every four weeks, it’s insane, especially for a player who is not exactly in his prime or even guaranteed to deliver the 20+ goals you would expect for that kind of money.

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    Mute Sloop John G
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    Jul 5th 2017, 8:54 AM

    @philip murphy: Would be inclined to agree Philip. Would have considered Ronald Koeman a progressive manager but this looks, in football terms, a backward step. It looks like the powers that be upstairs are making this decision purely from a commercial perspective.

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    Mute blueman79
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    Jul 5th 2017, 10:29 AM

    @Sloop John G: koeman said he wanted him back in January, and continued to do so for the rest of the season

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    Mute Barry O'Brien
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    Jul 5th 2017, 6:26 AM

    Oh yes, trust The Sun for news.

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    Mute Hakaman
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    Jul 5th 2017, 10:33 AM

    @Barry O’Brien: especially for anything relating to Merseyside!

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Jul 5th 2017, 2:31 PM

    @Barry O’Brien: Rooney be on the bench there as well surely? Even less games also

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    Mute Fran Heavey
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    Jul 5th 2017, 8:21 AM

    Why is everyone do obsessed with the wages and fees Premier League clubs are paying?Its not your money lads.i couldnt be happier Everton are splashing all this cash.All i want is a strong squad to compete for a trophy.Dont care how its achieved.

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    Mute John Smith
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    Jul 5th 2017, 8:38 AM

    @Fran Heavey: Everton fan here too, and absolutely delighted we are finally splashing some cash around but in saying that don’t wanna do a Leeds or a Portsmouth and spend all this money we don’t have and end up down in League 1. Mosh seems to know what he’s doing so hopefully all roads lead to CL and better

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    Mute blueman79
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    Jul 5th 2017, 10:39 AM

    @Fran Heavey: agreed !.. you can be damn sure the billionaire accountant that now owns us knows what he’s doing regarding income and outgoings more than people commenting here. regarding rooney, will give us more options ? Yes,. it’s not as if he’s our main signing..another striker will come in. He can still score 15 goals a season and we need a big squad this season, his experience will be invaluable to the younger players, and he doesn’t freeze in big games, which is usually a big problem for us, especially against you know who!.. what’s not to like. its not as if he’s coming to everton to give up. u can be sure he will work his nuts off like he always has . we know we’re not signing the rooney of 5 yrs ago , but still a good player who will contribute a lot in a busy season

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Jul 5th 2017, 7:44 AM

    Rooney, Giroud strike force. Devastating.

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    Mute blueman79
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    Jul 5th 2017, 10:43 AM

    @Nollaig Elliot: you’re forgetting sandro, could be a surprise package… works his nuts off and a strike rate of 1 in 2 in la liga last season…. Dominic calvert lewin also, had a fine under 20 world cup…. I would back those 4 to get more goals along with klassen than lukaku did last season… we relied too heavily on him last year, when he wasn’t firing, or sulking, or fighting with team mates we didn’t score

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Jul 5th 2017, 1:39 PM

    @blueman79: I have absolutely no doubt that Everton are the team to watch next season mate. I have a lot of admiration for the club. I hope Ye do well.

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    Mute prop joe
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    Jul 5th 2017, 7:24 AM

    United don’t have any centre forwards. Why get rid of a player that always has a great attitude on the pitch? Rooney is not the player he once was but he still is the best proven forward united have.

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    Mute Gustave H
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    Jul 5th 2017, 7:31 AM

    @prop joe: his legs are gone and he gets paid a fortune

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    Mute Stephen Duggan
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    Jul 5th 2017, 8:17 AM

    @prop joe: He’s never really been a #9 though has he? Even when he plays up top he’s more of a #10. I’d be surprised if Rooney ever gets into double league figures again, no matter where he ends up.

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    Mute prop joe
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    Jul 5th 2017, 9:30 AM

    @Gustave H: so what do other players get paid? Seeing he is utds record goalscorer he deserves to be the highest paid at the club. When his contract is up next year he won’t be on his current money. United still don’t have a forward as good as him. They need to bring in two or three better players before they off load him. United will be playing at least 50 competitive games next. They need everyone. Including there record goalscorer

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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    Jul 5th 2017, 10:18 AM

    @prop joe: be sure that if he’s close to moving then someone is coming in ,

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    Mute Gustave H
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    Jul 5th 2017, 10:26 AM

    @prop joe: I’d imagine they’ll look to buy someone to replace Zlatan. Rooney is no longer all that relevant as he’s no longer up to the standard required.

    The point about him being their record goalscorer is irrelevant. Denis Law scored an awful lot of goals for United. It doesn’t mean he’s can still do a job up front.

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    Mute Sloop John G
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    Jul 5th 2017, 11:06 AM

    @Johnny Bravo: there was a time when you could “be sure” Johnny but not the way things have been going for United in this transfer window. Don’t know if it’s Woodward, the agents, selling clubs or the players themselves but United seem to drag the bollo(ks out of it every time. Very frustrating for fans.

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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    Jul 5th 2017, 11:19 AM

    @Sloop John G: they won’t let him go if they don’t have a replacement, it probably a combination of several time but mainly Madrid as they are probably dragging the bollox out of the Morata deal cause Jose and co doesn’t want to play ball over De Gea.

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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    Jul 5th 2017, 11:24 AM

    @Sloop John G: don’t forget he the most experienced player at the club and I think this has been on the cards for ages now, hence the reason Carrick got a new deal who will now take up that mantel with talks of a coaching role after next season too.

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    Mute Lefty
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    Jul 5th 2017, 11:38 AM

    @prop joe: There’s a World Cup next summer and wouldn’t surprise me if Rooney was also pushing for a move he’ll want to be playing regularly!!And Utd will be sure to replace em could even see lukaku coming to Utd from Merseyside

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    Mute Michael O Connell
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    Jul 5th 2017, 10:31 AM

    Surely it would be cheaper to get Ross Barkley to play with a tyre around his waist than sign Rooney

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    Mute Sherman Berstein
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    Jul 5th 2017, 10:57 AM

    @Michael O Connell: so funny that Micheal but I guarantee he’s fitter and in better shape then you are

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    Mute Trev Hall
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    Jul 5th 2017, 11:47 AM

    £250 a week would be better option going to big rom and keep him as 20 goals he would defo score..rooney has only done that once in an excellent utd team..also people forgetting kissing utd badge at goodison to get at efc fans

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    Mute SYM-Metal
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    Jul 5th 2017, 8:54 AM

    Probably bollox, but united might as well get Lukaku while they’re at it

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    Mute Declan O'Leary
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    Jul 5th 2017, 8:12 AM

    Ah here two duds. I thought Everton up to know have been pretty good in there purchases. Rooney is finished and Giroud hasn’t got on well at Arsenal.

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    Mute shane finnegan
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    Jul 5th 2017, 4:37 PM

    neil custis and the sun… eh no thanks

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    Mute Jamie Smith
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    Jul 5th 2017, 6:46 AM

    Why

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