21 defender rejected, second offer expected

Nottingham Forest bid for Ireland Under-21 defender rejected, second offer expected

Hull City prospect Cathal McCarthy is drawing interest from the Premier League, Championship and Scotland.

Nottingham Forest have had a bid for Ireland Under-21 defender Cathal McCarthy turned down by Hull City.

The Premier League club is expected to make a fresh offer, but will face competition from rival top-flight sides and a number of Championship and Scottish outfits.

McCarthy is regarded among the top young centre back prospects in English football right now and Forest’s initial bid is believed to be a significant seven-figure sum.

However, the Championship play-off winners would be reluctant to lose someone that they view as a major asset.

At least two Scottish Premiership sides are eager to bring the former UCD man north of the border on loan, which may be a preferable option right now.

McCarthy joined Hull last summer from UCD - after opting to remain with the League of Ireland side so that he could complete his Leaving Certificate.

He made eight first-team appearances before an injury sustained in April kept him out of Hull’s play-off final run.

His debut came last August, when he starred alongside Ireland international John Egan against Blackburn Rovers.

He was man of the match when Hull beat Middlesbrough in just his second Championship start, while there were also FA Cup appearances against Blackburn and Chelsea.

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