Talented Carlisle United teenagers Liam McCarron AND Jarrad Branthwaite are attracting interest from other clubs, the Blues have confirmed.

Winger McCarron has already been the subject of reports linking Championship and Premier League clubs with a move.

United confirmed the Appleby prospect was indeed attracting interest.

And they also revealed Wigton centre-half Branthwaite – who, like McCarron, was awarded professional terms last season – is on the radar of other clubs.

Carlisle’s director of football David Holdsworth said: “We have received interest from a number of parties regarding both Jarrad Branthwaite and Liam McCarron.”

It has not been disclosed whether any clubs have made a formal bid for either of the two young Cumbrians.

But United’s admission today raises the possibility of the teenagers leaving Brunton Park at an early stage in their professional careers.

They could be in the sights of bigger clubs who are keen to add to their development squads for the new campaign.

McCarron, 18, broke into the first team last season and made 20 appearances, including four starts.

He had been watched by bigger clubs before Carlisle rushed the highly-rated player onto an 18-month contract, with the option of a further year, last September.

That interest has continued as McCarron caught the eye with some bright cameo appearances under John Sheridan and Steven Pressley in the 2018/19 campaign, which ended early for the winger due to injury.

Leeds have long been credited with an interest in McCarron, while reports circulated over the weekend linking Wolves, Derby and Sheffield United with the former youth team star.

News of interest in big defender Branthwaite also comes as the 16-year-old prepares to start his first full season in the professional ranks.

He was awarded a senior deal in February on two-year terms with an option to extend.

Branthwaite appeared on the first-team bench last season but is awaiting his first senior appearance.

Along with McCarron and new first-team pros Josh Dixon and Keighran Kerr, he would be expected to feature for the Cumbrians in their pre-season friendlies.

All four featured in the youth side under former academy manager Darren Edmondson, who left the club last week. Fellow under-18s coach Gavin Skelton is now first-team assistant manager.

United are continuing to receive applications for the academy manager vacancy.

The closing date is this Sunday.