Old Firm rivals Celtic and Rangers are both reportedly keen on signing Sunderland academy graduate Ethan Robson.
The January transfer window has been shut for less than a week but Old Firm rivals Celtic and Rangers already appear to be looking to the summer for new additions.
According to the Sun, the Glasgow giants are both hot on the trail of highly-rated Sunderland youngster Ethan Robson. The midfielder is one of the most exciting prospects on Wearside but could join Celtic or Rangers for as little as £150,000, with his contract due to expire at the end of this season.
The 21-year-old academy graduate has featured in five Championship games this season and has done enough to show exactly why Celtic and Rangers are keen.
Scottish Premiership champions Celtic raided England’s second tier for the out-of-contract Fulham striker Moussa Dembele in 2016 and look how that turned out. And, in Brendan Rodgers, Celtic have one of the best managers around when it comes to helping youngsters realise their potential.
Rangers, meanwhile, are not exactly loaded with disposable funds, so the prospect of signing such a promising youngster like Robson for a bargain fee is an opportunity not to be missed.
Sunderland, however, should not even be considering the prospect of letting Robson go. The Houghton-le-Spring born talent may have only recently broken into the first-team but, with funds tight and debts spiralling, academy starlets are more important than ever at the Stadium of Light as the club cannot afford to bring in new additions.
The likes of Robson, Josh Maja and George Honeyman are set for huge roles in Sunderland’s immediate future and give the fans some reason for optimism.
Therefore, losing one of their most exciting prospects simply does not bare thinking about. The departure of Robson would be more painful than any established first-teamer as he represents not only the present but the future of Sunderland, too.
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