Sunderland academy star Morten Spencer is set to leave Sunderland and move to Teesside rivals Middlesbrough, his mother has revealed.
The 14-year-old has been at the Wearside club for six years and has been impressing at Sunderland - so much so that he earned an England U15 cap last year and was recently asked to join Manchester City.
But his mother Heidi Lunde Spencer has told Norwegian media that he is set to turn down City in favour of a move to Middlesbrough, which is where he grew up and still lives and goes to school now.
Lunde Spencer told Norwegian medial outlet TV2: "Manchester City is one of the clubs that has shown interest. In the beginning, Morten would probably also get there, but that would mean that he had to move away from home to live and play there.
"Eventually, we have felt that City is such a large club with quite a few talents that are eventually sent out on loans. Therefore, we have looked at other alternatives.
"(Middlesbrough's academy) is so close that we can stay where we live now. In the long term, we believe this is the best solution for Morten's development."
A report in the Sun suggested the Black Cats would be due around £200k in compensation if the bright youngster, who turns 15 in March, leaves.
Describing her son's qualities, his mother told our sister paper the Teesside Gazette in the summer: "Morten is very good with both feet so they tend to put him on the left wing but he can also play in a central midfield role.
“He’s very creative, he’s a good passer of the ball, good at dribbling and he’s got a helluva shot. He’s very strong, fit and fast and has grown quite a lot lately so he’s now around 5ft 10ins. He scores a few goals as well.
“He is very determined and very focused and he just likes playing football,” added Heidi. “He trains three or four times a week and plays on a Sunday so we’re always up and down the road to Wearside and there’s the away games as well, which I always try to go to.”
Seems like those drives up the A19 won't be required for much longer.
