Why Fulham should beat Leeds United to sign Reegan Mimnaugh

According to the Glasgow Evening Times, Fulham are among a host of clubs tracking Scottish starlet Reegan Mimnaugh, who currently plies his trade with Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premiership. 

EFL Championship promotion rivals Leeds United, as well as Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, are also hot on trail of the 17-year-old, who enjoyed a senior breakthrough at the Fountain of Youth Stadium in the previous campaign (h/t Glasgow Evening Times).

Mimnaugh, who made his Accies debut in the defeat to Celtic earlier in the year back in January, also featured against Hibernian before being handed his first league start against Rangers at home. 

The highly-rated academy graduate went on to make a further five appearances for Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premiership last term, finishing the 2018-19 campaign with eight first-team appearances. 

However, he has struggled to break into manager Brice Rice’s plans for the ongoing campaign, with his only first-team involvement coming in a League Cup tie against Kilmarnock. Mimnaugh, though, has continued to impress for Hamilton’s reserve side, recently scoring in the Accies’ 6-1 victory over Dunfermline on Tuesday afternoon. 

Mimnaugh, who is primarily a central midfielder by trade, is yet to make his mark for Scotland across the age-group levels but the 17-year-old continues to be regarded as a bright emerging prospect at the Fountain of Youth Stadium. 

To put things into perspective, Reegan Mimnaugh is still very much in the formative years of his career as a professional footballer but his talent and potential have been there for everybody to see.

With Leeds United and Tottenham also vying for the teenager’s signature, Fulham are at risk of being blown out of the water in their pursuit of the Scottish sensation. However, his burgeoning reputation as a highly-rated prospect north of the border means that Mimnaugh could be a real coup for the Cottagers.

That he is already rubbing shoulders with the big boys at the age of 17 is indicative of a level of maturity that belies his tender years as a professional.

With Tom Cairney, Stefan Johansen and Kevin McDonald all accomplished names in the Championship and Harrison Reed and Harry Arter currently on loan from Southampton and Bournemouth respectively, Mimnaugh is unlikely to get a look in from manager Scott Parker at the moment. 

However, the 17-year-old certainly ticks the boxes to come through the door as a young and developing player to increase competition in the U23 ranks.

Fulham boast of some exciting up and coming midfielders like Luca De La Torre, Ben Davis, Fabio Carvalho, Tayo Edun, Sonny Hilton and Matt O’Riley coming through the Premier League 2 level. Reegan Mimnaugh would be a handy addition to that group.

Verdict

Hamilton Academical have an excellent track record of blooding quality young talent in their academy, with James McCarthy and James McArthur amongst those to have come through the Accies’ ranks in recent times before making their mark in the Premier League.

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All in all, Fulham winning the race for Reegan Mimnaugh would be a massive boost to their long-term plans moving forward.