Portsmouth's £500k offer for Hamilton wonderkid have James McCarthy has been rejected.

The Liverpool, Celtic, Reading and Lazio transfer target won't be leaving for less than €5m if Hamilton get their way.

Hamilton chairman Ronnie McDonald said: "Portsmouth have made a written, formal offer for James but we have rejected it out of hand as it does not come close to our valuation of the player."

McDonald added: "James has two years left on his contract and has repeatedly said he is happy here. He and the rest of our talented young players know we will not stand in their way when an offer comes in that right for them and for the club. There have been a lot of verbal inquiries and offers for James but Portsmouth is the first written offer."

Scotland’s Young Player of the Year went on trial to Liverpool in 2007 and impressed the Reds boss Rafa Benitez, according to the McCarthy's advisor George Gray.

Gray told the Irish Independent: “Rafa Benitez was very impressed by him. He told me that he regarded James’ technique as better than Steven Gerrard’s was at the same age."

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