Chester City chairman Stephen Vaughan has revealed he has turned down an enquiry from Town regarding young striker Paul McManus. The highly-rated 17-year-old only signed his first professional deal with the League Two club earlier this month.

Vaughan said: "I received an enquiry this week from Ipswich Town chairman David Sheepshanks for our young striker Paul McManus.

"I rejected his interest in the player because I am keen that Chester keep hold of any young players who show potential.

"But the fact that Ipswich have shown an interest in one of our youngsters spoke volumes for our successful youth system.”

McManus signed a one-year professional contract with Chester at the beginning of the month after coming through the ranks at the Deva Stadium.

The free-scoring frontman first came to prominence when he netted Chester's winner in an FA Youth Cup tie with Spurs last season and in September scored a hat-trick for his club's reserves side at Carlisle.

The 5ft 6in tall striker made his first team debut as a sub in a 3-1 home victory over Shrewsbury Town earlier in the month, in the process becoming Chester's first senior player to have been born in the 1990s.

The Liverpool-born player's first start followed in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy a few days later and he kept his place for the subsequent league game with Hereford.

McManus is likely to be well known to fellow Liverpudlian Jon Walters, who joined the Blues from Chester in January.

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