Motherwell Have 1st Option On Player

It`s been reported that Motherwell have taken Shelbourne midfielder Richie Baker on a 1 week trial, just 24hours after Craig Levein admitted going to Ireland last week to look at a potential signing targets.

Levein has admitted the scouting trip to Dublin a week past Friday, to see several players involved in Shelbourne`s 2-1 victory over Bohemians, which confirmed Shelbourne as league winners for the 3rd time in 4 years.

Striker Jason Byrne has already been linked with a move to Tannadice, but there are rumours that Levein also had an interest in 26-year-old Richie Baker, who came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute of the Bohemian match.

However, it looks like Motherwell will have first option on the player, after the sun reported he will arrived this afternoon to start a 7 day trial at Fir Park.

Baker could make an appearance for Motherwell in their reserve match against Aberdeen tomorrow afternoon, giving manager Maurice Malpas a better chance to see the player in action.

The end of the Eircom season has prevented Craig Levein from taking another look at several potential signing targets, but he would want another chance to see Ritchie Baker & Jason Byrne in action again, before taking his interest any further.

28-year-old Byrne was the top scorer in the league with 15 goals in 21 games and his goals were influential in Shelbourne winning the league again this season, but Dundee United would probably invite the striker for a trial at Tannadice before considering a permanent move to Tannadice.

Yesterday, Levein told the Evening Telegraph "I have been over to Ireland to see him (Jason Byrne) but he was just one of a few players in that game that we had heard about."

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