Michael Noonan is on the verge of confirming a free transfer to Nottingham Forest, with the move set to go through in January once the 18-year-old's contract at Shamrock Rovers expires. The Republic of Ireland Under-21 striker has long been linked with a switch abroad, following Rovers team-mate Victor Ozhianvuna and former St Patrick's Athletic forward Mason Melia in making that step.
Earlier in the summer, reports had Ajax and Forest both chasing his signature, with Bundesliga side Hoffenheim also credited with previous interest. Now it appears Forest have won the race, though the deal will not be completed until Noonan is a free agent in January.
Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, former Ireland, Blackburn Rovers and Burnley winger Keith Treacy, who coached Noonan in the Pat's youth teams, gave a measured verdict on the move.
"Nottingham is a huge club. They've got great history. Is it the right thing for Michael? Are they the right club for Michael?" Treacy said.
Concerns Over Managerial Turnover
Treacy's main reservation centres on Forest's ownership under Evangelos Marinakis, pointing to the club's history of changing managers.
"Initially, on the face of it, I look at the owner (Evangelos Marinakis) and I look at just how trigger happy he can be with managers," he said. "I mean, if (Oliver) Glasner doesn't finish in the European positions this season, he'll probably get sacked and - (Ange) Postecoglou, (Sean) Dyche) - the amount of managers that have come into the building and left."
"It's difficult when you're a young lad to see that amount of turnover of managers and find the pathway into the first team."
Treacy also noted Forest's spending power in the transfer market could make things harder for a young forward trying to break through. "They've obviously got a decent amount of money as well, so they can buy players at the drop of a hat, but it's a good starting block to go over there and learn off good professionals and Michael's a wonderful player."
"It's a good move, but will he go into the Nottingham Forest first team? No, of course not," he added. "The hard work would start when he gets over there. Nottingham is a brilliant city. I've really enjoyed my time every time I've been in Nottingham and Nottingham Forest is a brilliant place to play football. So as long as he gets his head down there and works hard, it could be a really good move."
Treacy said Noonan needs to "bite down on the gumshield and prove his worth" once he arrives at the City Ground.
A Dropped Ball for Rovers?
Also on the podcast, former Shamrock Rovers midfielder Paul Corry raised the financial side of the deal. Because Noonan's contract is expiring, Rovers stand to receive only a training compensation fee rather than a transfer fee.
"Particularly when you look at the Melia and the Ozhianvuna fees that have been paid over the last 18 months, I'm sure they would have been thinking that they would have got a high six figure, maybe a low seven figure fee for Michael, given the goals that he scored and given the fees that centre-forwards typically tend to attract. So it feels like a bit of a dropped ball," Corry said.
Still, Corry welcomed the opportunity for Noonan while flagging areas of his game that need work. "But it is good, to Keith's point, to see Michael getting an opportunity. I still think there's a lot of work to do there," he said.
"Sometimes I watch him (and) he looks a little bit scruffy with the ball at his feet. I think he's got great running power and he's always willing to stretch in behind. And he's obviously got a brilliant eye for goal. But I think his game does need development and hopefully that does take shape at Forest."
