by Jon Colman

Last updated at 15:51, Wednesday, 23 January 2013

Wolves boss Dean Saunders has put Carlisle United on transfer alert after admitting he is eyeing the Blues’ top young players.

Dean Saunders at Brunton Park

The new Molineux manager has disclosed the reason for his scouting trip to Brunton Park last Sunday – as revealed by News & Star Sport.

It was to make a personal check on United’s rising stars, with teenagers Brad Potts and Dave Symington the players most likely to have been in his sights.

Saunders insisted he was also checking out Coventry players in United’s 1-0 victory, but it is understood the Blues’ kids were top of his agenda.

The news confirms the suggestion that Carlisle’s home-grown players are being regularly scouted by clubs in the top divisions.

Saunders said: “Carlisle have got a couple of good young players, and so have Coventry. I went to watch all of them, just to keep an eye on them.

“I was watching a couple of players.

“We have a scouting network and if my scouts flag up the same player I go and watch that player.

“If the same names keep coming up we go and watch them and then make decisions on them.”

There is currently no indication that Saunders is due to follow up his interest with a bid for any of United’s players.

But Stale Solbakken’s successor at the Championship club has been told to slash the wage bill as he tries to reshape his squad in the transfer window.

And Wolves’ policy is generally to sign players at the younger end of the scale.

The England Under-19 international Potts started the Coventry game that Saunders attended, and played 78 minutes in midfield before being substituted.

Symington only came off the bench in the 89th minute, but the west Cumbrian winger’s display in United’s 3-1 defeat to Doncaster in November is also understood to have caught Saunders’ eye.

That night Saunders – then the Donny manager – watched as Symington fired home one of the goals of the season, a 35-yard free-kick, for United’s consolation strike.

Carlisle are braced for further interest in their youth team graduates but told News & Star Sport today that they had still not received any contact about any of their players.

Sunderland are among the other big clubs who have been watching the teenagers.

United’s League One trip to Crawley, which was postponed last Saturday, has been rearranged for Tuesday, March 5, kick-off 7.45pm.

Former Blues midfielder Paul Murray, 36, wants to carry on playing despite being released by Hartlepool.

The Cumbrian, who is taking his coaching badges, said: “I still feel fit enough to continue so we’ll see if anyone is interested.”

First published at 15:47, Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk