Pompey's £500,000 offer for wonderkid McCarthy rejected as Celtic wait in the wings

Portsmouth have had a written offer for Hamilton's teenage winger James McCarthy rejected by the Clydesdale Bank Premier League club.McCarthy has taken the SPL by storm in his debut season and his form wasrecognised at the weekend when he was named the league's Young Player of theYear.The 18-year-old has a contract with the Accies until 2011, however, his performances have raised the attention of a number of clubs with Celtic also apparently keen on the player. In demand: Hamilton's James McCarthy (left) Portsmouth have been the first of those clubs to make a formal offer, believed to be worth £500,000, with Hamilton chairman Ronnie McDonald revealing the bid had been rejected. Life's full of ups and downs: Sportsmail's guide to Premier League basement battlePORTSMOUTH FC

Source: Daily_Mail