Scottish Premiership champions Celtic are reportedly in talks with Rapid Vienna to sign left-back Mbombo despite Serie A interest.
A left-back from the Austrian division is unlikely to get Celtic fans foaming at the mouth and dreaming of a run to the latter stages of the Champions League.
But sometimes a player’s potential is best measured by the other clubs interested in signing him.
According to The Mail, Celtic have opened talks with Rapid Vienna about a potential £3 million deal for Belgian flyer Boli Mbombo, who is expected to replace or provide competition for Kieran Tierney depending on whether Arsenal get their act together.
Now, we’d forgive you for firing up Wikipedia. Mbombo, barring some impressive Europa League displays last season, is hardly a household name in Glasgow.
But claims from both England and Italy that Napoli are interested in signing him too shed a light on just how highly the 23-year-old is rated across Europe.
Napoli, after all, are a real powerhouse of a club. They are Champions League veterans now and have one of the most decorated and respected managers in the world at the helm in Carlo Ancelotti.
They’ve also set their sights very big as they look to end Juventus’ dominance of Serie A, president Aurelio Di Laurentiis confirming his desire to sign Real Madrid and Colombia superstar James Rodriguez in an attempt to bring the glory days back to the Stadio San Paolo (Goal).
The chance to work under Ancelotti and play alongside James, Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne at one of Europe’s best-supported clubs should at least tingle Mbombo’s tastebuds.
So Celtic still have it all to do.
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