Birmingham City academy chief Terry Westley has likened French youngster Eddy Gnahore to Manchester City star Patrick Vieira.

Gnahore's addition is seen as something of a coup at Wast Hills.

He was spotted at a Paris training centre by Manchester and a host of English and French clubs, and Celtic, have been after him after ever since.

"The board have done well to back us to go get him," Academy director Westley told the Birmingham Mail.

"A lot of Premier League clubs wanted to take Eddy, but he likes our set-up and the opportunities we could give him."

Powerfully-built, Gnahore, 16, has plenty of natural talent, said Westley.

"He's very strong and he can break up play but also burst past people to get forward. He's also a bit like Patrick Vieira, very leggy, and he's comfortable on the ball with a change of pace.

"He's turned a lot of heads in youth team football and if he can bring it all together, he's got so much talent we could have a player on our hands."