Exeter City winger Joel Randall is thrilled to be linked with a move to Celtic, telling the BBC reported interest from the Scottish Premiership champions is the stuff “dreams” are made of.
We shouldn’t be too surprised to see a young Grecian catch the eye of clubs far higher up the footballing pyramid.
Last summer Ollie Watkins joined Aston Villa in a club-record £28 million deal three years after leaving Exeter to enrol in the prestigious Brentford finishing school.
Ethan Ampadu, meanwhile, is playing regular Premier League football with Sheffield United, on loan from Chelsea, and Matt Grimes is now the influential captain of promotion-chasing Swansea City.
That’s without mentioning Ben Chrisene, the teenage forward who joined Watkins at Villa despite interest from Bayern Munich and Chelsea.
If reports are to be believed, Randall could be the latest Exeter starlet to join a bonafide British giant. The Athletic reports Celtic are interested in the £1.5 million-rated wideman.
“Of course, seeing the Celtic shout was dream stuff really, to see that interest,” says Randall, who has produced eight goals and five assists for an Exeter side sitting just six points off the top of League Two.
“But I’ve got a job to do with Exeter so I can’t let it distract me.
“We know the names of Watkins, Ampadu, Grimes. They’ve all shown what the academy can produce so they’ll put us in that sort of bracket as well.
“In the future, hopefully we can match their careers. They know it’s a good academy and we keep producing, so hopefully that can continue.”
Randall isn’t getting carried away just yet.
The 21-year-old insists his head hasn’t been turned and he remains “fully committed” to Exeter. However, if Randall continues to perform like this it’s only a matter of time before someone gives him a chance at a much higher level.
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