Celtic want to sign five young Scottish players and could disappoint Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers as their youth recruitment ramps up.
The Daily Record claim that Celtic are chasing talks with a whopping five players.
Hearts talent James Wilson is the main target with the teenager wanted by Rangers, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
Celtic aren’t done there though as they also want Aberdeen striker Lewis Pirie, Motherwell talent Jonjo Webb, Hamilton Academical defender prospect Joshua McDonald and Partick Thistle prospect Hayden Borland.
Pirie is understood to be wanted by Everton, Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers with Aberdeen desperately trying to keep him.
Borland has allegedly had a trial with Liverpool whilst Tottenham have also shown an interest in signing him.
Celtic ramp up their youth recruitment
The Bhoys have been losing some real talent from their ranks in recent times.
You can go back to the exits of Liam Morrison and Barry Hepburn to Bayern Munich, but there has also been Josh Adam to Manchester City and Ben Doak to Liverpool.
Add in Arsenal’s interest in signing Rocco Vata and you can understand why Celtic want to ramp up their youth recruitment.
The Bhoys want to have talent coming through to the first team, players like Callum McGregor, Anthony Ralston and James Forrest.
Celtic are frustratingly losing talent to English and European clubs, taking advantage of compensation rules to lure prospects away from Parkhead at a young age.
This has a knock-on effect and Celtic now feel that they need to go and snatch a few prospects from fellow Scottish clubs.
That will be a real source of annoyance for those clubs, who just can’t compete with Celtic’s budget or pull.
Premier League clubs are already onto talents like Wilson, Pirie and Borland though so Celtic will still face a battle to sign them – but oh how they would love to leave the likes of Liverpool, Leeds and Tottenham disappointed.
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