West Ham United send scouts to watch Partick Thistle teenager Aiden McGinlay
West Ham United have been tracking the progress of Partick Thistle teenager Aiden McGinlay, according to the Daily Record.
The left-sided midfielder recently scored twice for the Jags’ youth teams against fellow Scottish side Livingston in front of scouts from the London Stadium.
West Ham plan to scout McGinlay further in the coming weeks with him being a regular for Thistle’s Under-16s side so far this season.
Recent seasons have seen Partick’s academy produce fine Scottish talent with Rangers recently snapping up Cameron Cooper having impressed at the Jags.
West Ham would bring McGinlay in to play for the Under-18s and Under-16s sides with plenty of Hammers youngsters out on loan this season.
Investment
If the Irons do go and sign McGinlay from Partick Thistle either in January or even before then, it will still be a good five years at least before he makes an appearance at the London Stadium, if he gets to that stage at all.
It is so difficult to identify the best of the best at such a young level and there are so many unanswered questions about mentality, physicality, temperament and all the things in between.
McGinlay could have all of the attributes required to be a brilliant player but there is no doubt that West Ham are just taking a punt on this one and hoping that he comes good in the future.
At such a young age, he won’t have a professional contract which should mean that he can be signed for perhaps a small compensation fee and nothing more which makes it a more viable move for the club.