What chance do Celtic stand of getting their man with Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United and co all linked?
Attempting to convince an ambitious young attacker to turn down the advances of Chelsea and Arsenal is not an easy feat. Especially with huge wages, the chance to fight for titles and Champions League football all on offer in the capital.
And as reported by the Daily Mail, Celtic’s chances of landing long-standing target Henry Onyekuru in the summer may have taken in a hit with both Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as a glut of French and German sides, ready to muscle in on his £6million-rated signature.
The publication adds that the Nigerian, who was the subject of a £1million bid from Celtic in January, has been given assurances that he will be allowed to leave Belgian club Eupen in the summer.
Yet instead of requiring any cautionary tales of young players being lost to the system at Arsenal or Chelsea and subjected to short-term loan after short-term loan, perhaps Onyekuru should instead be inspired by the rapid rise of a similarly promising, teenage striker who arrived at Parkhead last summer desperate to prove himself.
Moussa Dembele was the same age as Onyekuru when he swapped Fulham for Celtic, as reported by the BBC, but while he would surely have been restricted to cup cameos south of the border, the Frenchman has thrived in Glasgow after starting week in week out under Brendan Rodgers.
He has started 16 Scottish Premiership games this season, scoring 15 times, and suddenly finds himself being linked with the great and the good of the game.
Celtic fans will not take too kindly to their illustrious club being used as a stepping stone but Onyekuru can take solace in knowing that the patience and faith afforded to him in Scotland could benefit his long-term development.
It has certainly done Dembele no harm.
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