Glentoran hope to successfully conclude their high-profile pursuit of Shay McCartan from Ballymena United later today or over the weekend.
It is understood a fee is virtually agreed for the 27-year-old striker who has been on Mick McDermott’s radar for the past few weeks.
A number of initial bids were rejected by Ballymena, but the Glens are thought to have returned with an eye-watering offer for the player.
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The price tag is likely to far exceed the Irish League transfer record, thought to be the estimated £60,000 package Crusaders paid for Jamie McGonigle in 2019.
Rumours are also circulating in local football circles that it may even approach – or hit – the £100,000 mark, a mammoth fee for a player operating in the Danske Bank Premiership.
McCartan trained at the Showgrounds on Thursday night and was due to feature for David Jeffrey’s men in this Saturday’s pre-season friendly at Institute.
However, Glentoran are keen to get a deal across the line before the weekend, with personal terms and other contractual issues yet to be agreed, although they are thought to be a formality.
McCartan, who joined Ballymena last summer after returning home from England, signed a new two-year contract with the Warden Street club in April.
And that meant the Glens had to go big in their efforts to snap up the former Bradford City striker who played almost 250 games in full-time football in England.
McDermott is a known admirer of the player and believes the rapid forward would bring an added X-Factor to his attacking options at the Oval next season.
If the deal does go through – and ends days and weeks of speculation – it would be one of the transfer coups of the summer.
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Jeffrey was keen to keep McCartan, but it is understood the County Down native’s personal situation has changed since putting pen-to-paper on a new deal three months ago.
He was Ballymena’s top scorer last season with 21 goals in all competitions, including several ‘worldies’ and 18 in the Danske Bank Premiership.
While McCartan’s departure would be a blow, Jeffrey is unlikely to panic and the United boss aims to add up to half a dozen new signings to his squad before the new season kicks off on August 28.
The Sky Blues were recently said to be in talks with Derry City striker David Parkhouse, while the likes of Cliftonville’s Joe Gormley may also come on the Braid club’s radar.
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