Neil Lennon’s Celtic reportedly want to bring Ecuador’s U20 World Cup star Jose Cifuentes to the Scottish Premiership.
Ecuador starlet Jose Cifuentes admits that he is filled with pride as Celtic mull over a deal to bring him to Parkhead, claiming to Football Scotland that there is interest from the Scottish Premiership champions.
This is shaping up to be one of the strangest transfer sagas of the summer. Earlier in July, Hoops manager Neil Lennon was asked directly by the links with Cifuentes, only to tell reporters that he had never heard of the star of the U20 World Cup (the Express).
But, while Lennon appears to be in the dark, Cifuentes’ claims suggest that Celtic are indeed interested in making him their fourth summer signing after the additions of Christopher Jullien, Luca Connell and Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo.
“As for any contact [with Celtic] my agent is handling that. I understand that there is interest but nothing concrete,” said the America de Quito starlet.
“I want to have the opportunity to leave for Europe. Celtic is a big club with everything that they play for. I had heard of the club before (the interest started).”
An energetic midfielder with a remarkably well-rounded skill set at such a young age, Cifuentes starred for an impressive Ecuador side at the U20 World Cup with his superb passing range and his ability to strike the ball with fierce velocity from long range catching the eye.
With captain Scott Brown past his best and in his mid-30s now, Celtic cannot put off signing a long-term successor for much longer and Cifuentes certainly has the potential to fill the boots of the long-serving skipper.
The Scottish Sun claimed recently that Cifuentes, who had also caught the eye of Manchester City, would cost £2.5 million.
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