Aston Villa and Manchester City keen on 17-year-old League Two starlet

Aston Villa and Manchester City are both interested in snapping up highly-rated Football League star Jack Blackford, according to The Birmingham Mail.

The Premier League duo, who currently sit fourth and 20th in the standings respectively after 26 fixtures so far this term, are both keen on securing a deal for Hartlepool United’s gifted winger.

The 17-year-old, who has starred for the League Two outfit’s youth side this season, is understood to be heading north to complete a trial with Manuel Pellegrini’s title contenders after spending a week in the Midlands with Remi Garde’s Villa.

Blackford, who is yet to make his first-team appearance for Hartlepool, is comfortable playing on either flank or in midfield.

The teenager caught the eyes of both Villa and City scouts after graduating from Hartlepool’s youth academy where he has been learning his trade since he was just nine.

Hartlepool currently sit 21st in the fourth tier of English football, just four points above the bottom two.