BURY academy manager Mark Litherland is convinced midfielder Will Ferry will be a success at Southampton.

The 16-year-old midfielder joined the Premier League outfit for an undisclosed six-figure sum on Monday.

Ferry, who grew up in Heywood before moving to Sale, had been with the Shakers since he was seven years old, and caught the eye of Litherland from the very beginning.

“He has always been one of the top three or four boys we ear-marked in the academy,” Litherland told the Bury Times.

“Without putting too much expectation on him I am convinced he will play at a very high level.

“Whether that be Premier League or whatever, he has all the assets to be very successful.

“One of his biggest assets is his big heart.

"He puts 100 per cent into everything and has a high determination to succeed.”

Ferry spent time on trial at Chelsea last season and the Premier League champions wanted to take him back again but the club refused.

The youngster also had the chance to go away with the Republic of Ireland Under-18s squad to the European Championships this summer, but stayed behind to sit his GCSE exams.

“Will is quite an academic boy,” Litherland added. “He was called up to the Republic of Ireland Under-18s squad and was asked to go to the Euros over the summer but he declined.

“He wanted to stay and sit his exams because you never know what is around the corner in football.”